Flood — Wabash, Illinois

2015-03-13 to 2015-03-24 · near Mt Carmel, Wabash, Illinois

Event narrative

Minor flooding occurred on the Wabash River. At the Mount Carmel river gage, the river crested at 24.78 feet on the 19th. Flood stage is 19 feet. Backwater flooding of tributary creeks occurred, including Coffee Creek near Keensburg. One person drowned when his ultra-terrain vehicle became submerged in creek floodwaters near Keensburg. The 22-year-old man was found several days later, after floodwaters had receded a couple of feet. Cattle and farm equipment were relocated. Most local roads along or near the river were impassible. Extensive lowland flooding occurred. Installation of flood gate A at Mount Carmel was necessary. Access to local camp sites was blocked. The Wabash River was more than 2 miles wide at I-64.

Wider weather episode

Minor flooding occurred along the Lower Wabash River and the Big Muddy River, and moderate flooding occurred on the Little Wabash River. A heavy rainfall event on March 3 was followed by a winter storm on March 4 into early March 5. Two more heavy rainfall events occurred in quick succession. These events were on the 9th and 10th, and on the 13th and 14th. The combined effect of all these rain and snow events was a widespread river flooding event. Since the precipitation was spread out over a 10-day period, the magnitude of the flooding was generally minor instead of major.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.4200, -87.7700)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 562606. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.