Torrential rains are expected for the weekend, bringing 3 to 5 inches of precipitation to the area from today through early Sunday. The heaviest rains are expected from late tonight through late Saturday night. Ground conditions remain saturated from recent snow melt and past precipitation. Heavy rainfall will result in creeks and streams exceeding their banks. Roads that typically flood will do so and low-lying areas prone to flooding should also be expected to be under water.
"As we prepare for heavy rain through much of the weekend, Kentucky highway crews are asking motorists to start thinking about some of the hazards they will encounter as they are out and about," reports Keith Todd, a spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. "Never underestimate the power of water, the condition of a flooded area or how fast water is flowing. These errors in judgment can be fatal."
More than half of all flood-related drownings occur when vehicles are driven into hazardous floodwaters. A flooded area with 6 inches of rushing water can knock a man off his feet and an area with as little as a foot of rushing water can sweep a vehicle off the roadway.
