Region is under flash-flood watch

A flash-flood watch is in effect for Bowie and Miller counties. (Metro Creative Connection)
A flash-flood watch is in effect for Bowie and Miller counties. (Metro Creative Connection)

The flash-flood watch has been extended through today for Bowie and Miller and surrounding counties.

The watch includes Howard, Little River, Sevier, Hempstead, Lafayette and Nevada counties in Southwest Arkansas, and Cass, Red River and Titus counties in Northeast Texas and McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma.

Storms that develop today will be capable of producing flash flooding due to already saturated soils and full creeks and bayous.

Flash flooding of roads, low lying areas and poor drainage areas will be possible according to the National Weather Service.

Anyone driving a vehicle in flooded area should use caution and remember to "turn around, don't drown."

The flooding is already affecting local rivers according to emergency management officials.

The Little River at Horatio, Ark., is expected to crest near 31.5 feet early Sunday. Homes upstream of Horatio could be cut off by high water. The flood warning is extended until Tuesday for the Little River near Idabel, Okla.

At 8:30 a.m., Friday the stage was 32.5 feet. Moderate flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast. The flood stage is 30 feet and the river was forecast to continue rising to near 32.6 feet by late Friday.

Hundreds of acres of lowland could be flooded from the Little River. Farmers and ranchers should move cattle and farm machinery to higher ground until the high water ends.

The Index bridge at the Red River on U.S. Highway 71 north of Texarkana is expected to crest at 20.5 feet, said Terry Purvis with the Miller County Office of Emergency Management. Flood stage at Index is 25 feet.

The Index Bridge was closed in 1990 and again in 2015 when it flooded and the depth hit 27 feet.

"We are hoping the crest does not change and the fall after is quick," Purvis said. "Because there is more rain to come next week," Purvis said.

The Red River at Pecan Point near DeKalb is expected to crest Tuesday at 26.5 feet. Flood stage is 24 feet and moderate flooding was occurring Friday.

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