For the second day in a row, Benton County and surrounding counties are under a flash flood warning until 2 p.m. Thursday and a flash flood watch through Thursday evening. The National Weather Service says steady rain overnight with some periods of heavier rainfall have fallen on already saturated ground, prompting the warnings. Forecasters say the area could be in for more heavy rain today, with the threat diminishing later today and tonight. But there is still an outside chance at a stray thurndershower Friday afternoon.

Although weather radar at 9:30 a.m. indicated that Belle Plaine seems to be on the back edge of the current deluge, forecasters are indicating that the front which is causing this prolonged rainy weather is stalled over Iowa, thanks in part to a tropical storm off the east coast which is slowing the progress of weather systems across the country.

Motorists and pedestrians are reminded not to drive or walk across flooded streets.