Major flooding ongoing on East Fork White River in Seymour

Flooding on East Fork White River in Seymour rose overnight to the major flood level, but the river appears to have crested and is on its way back down.

According to river gauges, the river peaked at 19.49 feet between 9 and 10 p.m. Thursday and stands at 19.33 feet this morning. That is a few inches above the major flood level of 19 feet.

Jackson County Emergency Management says that the record high on East Fork White River at Seymour was 21 feet in March of 1913, with the second highest of 20.9 feet during the June 2008 floods. During last April’s severe floods, the river rose to 19.78 feet. This week’s high would be 7th highest on record.

The river is expected to return to the moderate flood level by this afternoon and drop back to minor flooding by Sunday evening. It is not expected to return to normal levels until next Wednesday.

Upstream at Columbus, minor flooding is ongoing on East Fork White River, The river is close to cresting and is at 13.78 feet, only a few inches from the moderate level of 14 feet. The river is not expected to drop back below flood levels until Sunday morning.

Moderate flooding continues at Sugar Creek and Driftwood River at Edinburgh and Little Blue River in Shelby County.

Minor flooding is ongoing at Young’s Creek at Amity, Flat Rock River at St. Paul and Columbus, Clifty Creek at Columbus and Big Blue River at Shelbyville,

Our area has received up to 6 inches already and more is forecast, which could lead to higher flood levels that last longer than currently forecast.