HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – As areas of Christian County are still seeing the effects of the flooding that took place last week, the National Weather Service has provided data revealing the amount of precipitation the county received while crews tackle damage done to the roadways.
While all roads that were impacted by flooding have reopened throughout the county, evidence of the high waters are still apparent. On Pembroke Oak Grove Road, floodwaters were still filling the expansive fields on either side of traffic on Monday. Separately, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is still reporting high water on KY-117 around the seven-mile marker.
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Flood data, impact on roads
Sean Poulos, a meteorologist with NWS Paducah shared that Christian County received around 6.5 inches of rain on Feb. 15. Hydrographs of select rivers in Kentucky on the NWS website shows that the South Fork Little River- Bypass rose to 20.16 feet during this time. This is just a foot lower from the record crest for the river, occurring in July 2016 at 21. 35 feet. Flood stage occurs at 18 feet, with the river normally resting at around nine feet.
Days later, it was determined that county was hit with around five inches of snow between Feb. 18-19. This combination of flooding and freezing with several inches of precipitation has the potential to do severe damage to roads with the creation of potholes. Preceding the flooding, Hopkinsville Public works was already trying to keep up with extensive pothole repairs.
“Anytime you have water mixed in with freezing temps and thawing, it will cause damage to the streets and create potholes,” Public Works Director Mike Perry told Christian County as they prepared for the snow last week.
KYTC, who is responsible for state roads, highways, and interstates, shared that ongoing pothole patching will occur in Christian County starting on Feb. 23. This began with work on U.S. 41 south on Monday, moving to I-24 Tuesday and Wednesday. Work will continue back on U.S. 41A and I-169 on Thursday and Friday.
Traffic will likely be affected during these repairs and motorists are encouraged to use caution around equipment and workers on the road.
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