Region's Rivers Overflow as Rain Bathes Midlands

BY JUDITH NYGREN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER 

Nebraskans and western Iowans were singing a childhood ditty Saturday: Rain, rain, go away. 

Entire swathes of the two states were under flash-flood watches Saturday as waterways swelled under a downpour that dumped 3.5 to 4 inches on communities such as Burwell in western Nebraska and Tecumseh in the southeast part of the state. 

And that didn't include a second band of rain - possibly heavy - that was expected to move across the region late Saturday. 

The south branch of the Weeping Water Creek spilled out of its banks Saturday morning, and Turkey Creek near Wilber was expected to crest up to 7 feet above flood level, according to the National Weather Service. 

Meteorologists also were keeping an eye on a number of other trouble spots, including the Big Blue River, its west fork and Lincoln Creek. 

The Missouri River from Nebraska City south to Rulo was expected to rise throughout the day Saturday, possibly cresting at 38 feet - 6 feet to 7 feet above flood levels. 

The Little Nemaha ran over early Saturday, forcing authorities to shut down a flooded Highway 136 east of Auburn. 

Water also covered roadways south of Syracuse, four miles south of Nebraska City and on Nebraska Highway 50 near the Burr spur, said Otoe County Emergency Management Director Bonnie Schaaf. 

The weather service planned to keep flash-flood watches in effect through Saturday night for much of east-central and southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Lingering showers were expected throughout the day today in eastern Nebraska.