Moderate flooding expected near Ewing

Flooding forecasts along the Elkhorn River valley in Holt County have been upgraded from minor to moderate severity, according to the National Weather Service in North Platte.

Moderate flooding upstream and downstream from Ewing is expected to continue through the weekend.

At 7:45 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, the river measured 7.5 feet near Ewing. Flood stage is 9 feet.

The NWS predicts the river will rise above flood stage Friday afternoon and continue to rise to 10 feet by Saturday morning.

Near Clearwater, the river nears the top of its banks, as of Friday morning, with lower areas already experiencing overflow.

"Heavy rainfall amounts over the past few days, three to six inches with locally high amounts up to eight inches, has caused runoff into the upper reaches of the Elkhorn River," the NWS reports.

The river is expected to fall below flood stage by early Monday morning.

The NWS advises not to drive a vehicle into an area where water covers the roadway. Water depth may be too high to allow a vehicle to cross safely and the road beneath may not be intact.

"Vehicles caught in rising waters should be abandoned quickly."

According to the NWS, "This crest compares to a previous crest of 10.1 feet on May 8, 1960."