UPDATE: 03/14/10 6:11 PM

The flood watch for Washington, Wood, Pleasants, and surrounding counties has been lifted. Cresting predictions for Marietta, Willow Island, and the Parkersburg/Belpre area are well below flood levels.

As of Sunday morning cresting is expected in all areas Monday. But experts say just because no flooding resulted this time residents shouldn't let their guard down yet.

Ed Hupp with Wood County Emergency Services, says "anyone who lives in the flood plain area knows, especially this time of year, that we've got to keep an eye on all river levels. Because Wood County suffers from backwater. We're not prone to flash flooding as we are from the water backing up on the rivers."

For continued monitoring of the river levels you can log on to our web channel at wtap dot com and click on the hot button.
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New projections of where the river is expected to crest are coming down and all of the projections show crests below flood level.

In both Marietta and the Parkersburg/Belpre area, the river is projected to crest roughly four feet below flood levels. But, that doesn't mean streets will remain water free. Officials warn traveling on roads with water should never be an option.

Major Jon Coppernoll with the Washington County Sheriff's Office says "what we want to stress to the public and encourage folks is, if there's any water over a roadway, we would encourage you not to drive through it. It's very difficult to be able to look at the water on a roadway and determine exactly how deep it is. Unfortunately, people try to drive through that water and once they get into it they realize its too deep, and then they're sometimes stranded."

Neither Washington and nor Wood County have experienced any trouble with roads yet, but that may change as rains continue. If there is water on the roadway, officials urge you take an alternative route.