Heavy Rainfall Wednesday Morning Causes Flooding, Washes Out Roads

The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg has issued a Flood Warning until 5:45p today for Stephens County.

A flood warning is now also in effect for the Upstate of South Carolina.

So far, at the WNEG Radio studios in downtown Toccoa, almost six inches of rain have fallen over the last 18 hours.

Meteorologist Lauren Carroll with the National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg says, however, we should see the heavy rain taper off somewhat this afternoon.

“What we expect is something of a lull this afternoon as far as the constant heavy rainfall is concerned. There could be some intermittent spots of heavy showers, but it should taper off a bit this afternoon,” she said.

Crawford Creek in the Deerchase Subdivision overflowed its banks Wednesday morning taking the road with it.

As the rain came down this morning, numerous roads in the City and County reported flooding.

Stephens County Randy Shirley tells WNEG Radio many of the county’s creeks are flooding their banks.

“Water that is coming over the creek banks on some rural roads,” Shirley said. “On Deerchase Road of off Crawford Hills, the bridge over the creek has collapsed so folks will not be able to cross it.”

Another affected road this morning has been the Highway 123 corridor where flooding in some spots made the road almost impassable.

Other side roads off 123 such as Fernside Drive, East Tugalo St., Lake Louise, and Fern Valley roads all reported flooding this morning.

And all that wet weather is causing trees to fall blocking roads.

County Road crews and DOT crews have been working to clear roads all morning and will continue to work throughout the day.

Carroll says rain is expected to continue Thursday, but it shouldn’t be the constant heavy rainfall we’ve seen this morning.

“It looks a little less like these constant, heavy rainfall and a lot more like just those spotty, scattered showers and thunderstorms; especially in the afternoon tomorrow,” Carroll explained. “Are we going to get widespread heavy rainfall tomorrow? Not necessarily, but is there the potential to see another couple of inches of rain from those thunderstorms? Absolutely.”

Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies along with Toccoa Police have been out in force all morning patrolling the roads.

Authorities are asking people who must be out to use extra caution when driving.

Stay with WNEG for the latest forecast and road conditions.