UPDATE: 03/14/10 3:37 PM

The National Weather Service has cancelled the flood watch for Athens, Washington, Meigs, Gallia, and Lawrence Counties in Ohio and Cabell, Mason, Jackson, Wood, Pleasants, and Tyler Counties in West Virginia.

The Ohio River will still run high through Wednesday however not
as high as previously forecasted. Therefore the flood watch has
been cancelled.

__________________________________________________________
UPDATE: 03/14/10 10:40 AM

The National Weather Service forecast office in Charleston has canceled the Flood Watch for Washington County and neighboring Ohio River counties. Hydrologists say the Ohio River will still run high through Wednesday but not as high as previously forecasted, therefore the Flood Watch is canceled. Updated crests from the NWS:

- Willow Island (flood stage 37 feet) – crest 32.9 feet, Monday

- Marietta (flood stage 35 feet) – crest 31.6 feet, Monday

- Parkersburg/Belpre (flood stage 36 feet) – crest 32.1 feet, Monday

The Muskingum River at McConnelsville (flood stage 11 feet) crested Sunday morning at 10.1 feet, and will begin a gradual decline Sunday evening.

This is the final public information statement from Washington County Emergency Management regarding this event.

To sign up your cell phone to receive a message if there is flooding and to monitor river levels log on to our web channel homepage at www.wtap.com and then click on the "Hot Button."
__________________________________________________________
UPDATE: 03/13/10 1:26 PM

The National Weather Service forecast office in Charleston has revised crest predictions for the three Ohio River forecast points affecting Washington County. The predictions are revised downward as follows:

-Willow Island (flood stage 37 feet) – Crest predicted at 34.3 feet, early Tuesday morning.

- Marietta (flood stage 35 feet) – Crest predicted at 31.6 feet, early Tuesday morning.

-Parkersburg/Belpre (flood stage 36 feet) – Crest predicted at 32.9 feet, Tuesday morning.

Hydrologists at the Weather Service in Charleston are keeping the Flood Watch in effect for now…primarily for backwater issues and minor flooding in the usual low spots. Washington County Emergency Management continues to encourage the public to monitor river levels and later forecasts.

To sign up your cell phone to receive a message if there is flooding and to monitor river levels log on to our web channel homepage at www.wtap.com and then click on the "Hot Button."
__________________________________________________________
Property owners along the Ohio River are preparing for the possibility of flooding early next week.

The snow that has melted coupled with the rain predicted over the next few days could lead to the Ohio River cresting just above or below the flood stage in the Mid-Ohio Valley Tuesday morning.

Michael Cullums, Washington County Emergency Management Agency Public Information Officer said "We are urging people to stay informed over the weekend it could change either way hopefully down, but so far so good but it will effect some basements and a few streets here and there in town but as long as we stay below the 35 foot flood stage we generally should be alright"

As of Friday evening the National Weather Service predicted the crest in Marietta will be less than a foot below the flood stage at 34.3 feet. The flood stage there is 35 feet.

In Parkersburg and Belpre the crest was predicted to be 35.6 feet late Tuesday morning and the flood stage there is 36 feet.

At Willow Island the crest was predicted to be almost a foot above the flood stage at 37.7 feet Tuesday morning. The flood stage there is 37 feet.

Cullums said that it all depends on how much rain we receive.

Flooding isn't something new to businesses along the Ohio River, but since 2004 and 2005 some business owners like Harley Noland of the Levee House cafe have made changes to prepare for future flooding.

"Most of my equipment now is not built in, It's mobile. Also instead of putting in drywall finishes on the walls, I've put in stainless steel sheets so i don't have to worry about the renovations as much as i did in '04 and '05," said Noland.

The National Weather Service predicted Friday that by Sunday morning the Muskingum River in McConnelsville is expected to be nearly a foot under the flood stage at 9.8 feet and then is predicted to hold steady for the next two days under a controlled release from the Muskingum Reservoir System. The flood stage there is 11 feet.

Washington and Wood County officials have set up automatic telephone messaging systems for landlines if the river reaches the flood stage.

To sign up your cell phone to receive a message if there is flooding and to monitor river levels log on to our web channel homepage at www.wtap.com and then click on the "Hot Button."