Bartholomew officials warn major roads closed through Monday

Bartholomew County emergency officials are warning that major roads will remain closed at least until Monday evening.

The county says that State Road 46/Jonathan Moore Pike from Lindsey Street downtown to Goeller Boulevard on the west side will remain closed, including the ramps at Interstate 65. Also expected to remain closed are State Road 11 from Jonathan Moore Pike to Walesboro and Southern Crossing.

As of Sunday afternoon, East Fork White River in Columbus is at 17.02 feet, about a foot over the major flood stage and near the predicted crest. But water levels aren’t expected to drop back below the moderate flood level until Monday morning, according to river gauge predictions.

East Fork White River at Seymour is also near its predicted crest at 19.78 feet with major flooding Sunday afternoon. It isn’t expected to drop back below moderate flooding until Tuesday morning.

Big Blue River at Shelbyville also continues major flooding but it appears to have crested at 19.98 feet earlier today, 22 tenths of a foot below the 20.2 record flood level. It is not expected to drop back to moderate flood levels until early Monday morning

Other area rivers remain in moderate flooding including:

• • Flatrock River at Columbus: Moderate flooding at 16.2 feet, 1.2 feet above the moderate flood level of 15 feet. The river is expected to crest this afternoon in the moderate flood stage.
  • Flatrock River at Rushville: Moderate flooding at 15.01 feet, .1 feet above the moderate flood stage. The river has already crested and is expected to return to minor flooding momentarily.
  • Driftwood River at Edinburgh: Moderate flooding at 16.56 feet, 2.5 feet above the moderate flood level. The river is expected to crest momentarily.
  • Sugar Creek at Edinburgh: Moderate flooding at 16.51 feet, 2.5 feet above the moderate flood level. The river is expected to have crested in the moderate flood stage.

Haw Creek is no longer flooding at Hope, Clifford or Columbus. Clifty Creek is also no longer flooding. Muscatatuck River at Vernon never reached the minor flood stage.

Bartholomew Consolidated Schools and Whitecreek Lutheran school will be closed Monday and have declared an elearning day.

Authorities have also announced a freeze watch for our area overnight, with temperatures as low as 23 possible.

Photo courtesy of Columbus Police and Fire departments.