The national weather service has issued its highest rain warning of the year for the Valley Region, saying up to 90 millimeters could fall in 36 hours before the system moves north on Thursday. By Tuesday evening, water was already running across several rural roads south of Cedar Falls, and road crews had closed four of them with barriers.
The warning covers the whole of the region’s southern lowlands, where the ground is still saturated after a wet start to the month. Forecasters say the heaviest bursts are likely overnight, when visibility is poorest and small streams can rise within an hour.
Roads and rail
The transport ministry said the main highway between Cedar Falls and Riverton remained open, but drivers should expect speed limits and lane closures near the river crossings. Regional rail services will run a reduced timetable on Wednesday morning while engineers inspect two embankments.
Half a meter of moving water is enough to float a car. If you see a barrier, turn around — there is no shortcut worth that risk.
Daniel Kovac, head of the regional road maintenance service
Police said they had already helped two drivers who tried to pass a closed stretch near the village of Brookhill on Tuesday afternoon. Neither was hurt.
What residents should do
Municipal teams in the lowest-lying villages have handed out sandbags from fire stations and school car parks. Residents are advised to move valuables and electrical equipment off the ground floor, check that drains outside their homes are clear, and keep a phone charged in case of power cuts.
Farmers have been asked to move livestock away from riverside pastures. “We moved the cattle up the hill this morning,” said Ivana Marsh, who runs a dairy farm outside Cedar Falls. “We learned that lesson two winters ago.”
Schools in the region will stay open, but head teachers may send pupils home early if bus routes are affected. Parents are asked to check school notices before the morning run.
What happens next
The weather service will review the warning on Wednesday at noon. Forecasters say rivers are likely to peak a day after the rain stops, so some roads may remain closed into the weekend even as skies clear.
Comments 3
Stay safe everyone in the south. No trip is worth driving through that water.
Thanks for the clear advice. Sandbags at our fire station were gone by four o’clock, so go early.
The road past Brookhill floods every single autumn. When is the ministry going to raise it?