Coles County is under a flood watch until 7 a.m. today.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln issued the watch Monday after a strong storm system moved in and dropped heavy rains on the area.

The area has had two inches of rain this month as of Tuesday morning, said Eastern instructor and climatologist Cameron Craig. Craig predicted up to three inches of rainfall by today.

The average rainfall for March is 3.49 inches. The wettest March on record was in 1945 when Charleston received 10.63 inches, Craig said.

The National Weather Service predicted flooding in the area because the ground is saturated from previous rainfalls and melting snow.

The amount of precipitation is primarily caused by the track a low-pressure system takes and the amount of moisture that flows from the Gulf of Mexico, Craig said.

Three significant storm tracks can influence the amount of precipitation for the area. The first track originates in Alberta, Canada and is called the Alberta Clipper.

“This track typically develops quickly due to the lack of moisture available and has less precipitation,” Craig said.

The second track is called the Colorado Low and contains a moderate amount of moisture. The third storm track – and the one causing this week’s precipitation – is known as the Inside Leader, Craig said.

“This track usually develops in the Four Corners region of the West and migrates along the Gulf of Mexico,” he said. “It develops slowly due to the significant amount of moisture available and usually increases the amount of precipitation for a particular area.”

The Charleston Public Works Department is prepared for the heavy precipitation.

The department inspected and cleaned inlets and culverts known to cause flooding during heavy rain, said Curt Buescher, director of public works. The department also inspected all pump stations and plant processes to assure it could handle heavy rain flows.

Areas that flood in Charleston are typically caused by blockages in the drainage system, Buescher said. If an area does flood, public works tries to determine if the cause, such as a plugged culvert, can be fixed.

“The only other thing we can do is to delineate the flooded areas with proper traffic control to make the public aware of the conditions,” Buescher said.

The last report of flooding on Eastern’s campus was April 6, 2006, when four inches of rain fell in Charleston. McKinney Hall experienced basement flooding, caused by water running down an outside wall into the basement.

Installing new drain tile solved the flooding problem, said Mark Hudson, director of Eastern Housing and Dining Services.

Installing new drainage tiles also solved a flooding problem in University Court, Hudson said.

When there is a significant amount of rainfall expected, Facilities Planning and Management will do drain checks to try and prevent flooding, Hudson said.

“Getting up to four inches of rain in a 24-hour period is pretty unpredictable,” Hudson said. “But we’re hopeful that we will have things covered.”

If a residence hall does experience flooding, Building Service Workers are usually the first to respond.

The University Police Department would be called in the event of a flooding, said Police Chief Adam Due.

“We would no doubt be called and respond, but Facilities Planning and Management would handle flooding,” Due said.

The weather for the rest of March is predicted to be warm with normal precipitation.

“Currently, a strong La Nina episode is taking place in the equatorial Pacific. The influence of this episode on our region is likely to provide above-normal precipitation amounts for the month of March,” Craig said. “In addition, above-normal temperatures are expected.”

What to do if roads flood – advice from Cameron Craig

“When any kind of flood warning or watch is issued by National Weather Service, the most important thing to remember is, ‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown.’ Although a road covered by water looks safe to drive through, don’t do it. Seek another route. Stay away from rising creeks and rivers. Essentially, never second guess Mother Nature. “

Nora Maberry can be reached at 581-7942 or at nemaberry@eiu.edu.

Dominique Perkins, a senior middle level education major, walks through standing water Tuesday afternoon just east of Buzzard Hall. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch until 7 a.m. today. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)