A persistent rain cell that seemed to camp right over southwest Benton County brought flooding rains to the area Thursday afternoon. While local rainfall totals were not immediately available, some area estimates indicated in excess of six inches in the Shellsburg area and over 10 inches south of Washington.
In Belle Plaine, 13th Avenue west of the Belle Plaine Golf Club was under water, water was creeping over the street south of the golf course and the creek near East Side Body Shop was raging at near-bank full.
The creek that runs through Franklin Park was out of its banks.
Elsewhere in Eastern Iowa, portions of Highway 151 north of Cedar Rapids were reportedly closed. Linn-Mar High School’s football field was completely under water by noon. There were reports that the new school in Central City was flooded.
A flash flood watch remained in effect for Benton County until 7 p.m. Thursday and a flood warning was in effect until 1:45 a.m. Friday.
The National Weather Service calls for an end to this rainfall by Friday, with partly sunny skies and a high of 73 expected. There is an outside chance at a stray thurndershower Friday afternoon.
