Flood Warning issued for James River

Eight feet high and rising.

April 30, 2014; 12:29 PM • by Richard Hayes

All that rain we’ve been getting has to go somewhere and it’s all heading for the James River. If you live or travel near the river, I’m looking at you Pony Pasture, take precautions. As you can see from the image above (taken from the Westham gauge) the river is expected to peak late Thursday into Friday.

Even if you have a massive SUV don’t drive it onto a flooded road. The Centers for Disease Control report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water. The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. A mere six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes only two feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles. This includes pickups and SUVs.

* Flood Warning for the James River at Richmond Westham. * From late tonight until further notice…or until the warning is cancelled. * At 10:30 am Wednesday the stage was 8.2 feet. * Minor flooding is forecast. * Flood stage is 12.0 feet. * Forecast…the river is expected to rise above flood stage by after midnight Thursday and continue to rise to near 14.8 feet by Friday morning. * At 15.0 feet…begin moderate flooding. Residences near gage threatened with some driveways under one to one and a half feet of water. This river level is comparable to a previous crest of 14.9 feet on Feb 02 2013.

Image: National Weather Service