Heavy rain in the past few days pushed the Tennessee River at Florence and Whitesburg near flood stage, and with more rain on the way, a TVA official warns Tennessee Valley residents who have water interests — marinas, docks, shoreline property, campgrounds and boats — to stay up to date on water levels in the coming days.

In western Limestone County, the Elk River is testing some roadways, which means motorists should stay alert if more rain falls, a county commissioner said.

“Precipitation in the past few days in the valley has been equal to what we typically see in a month to a month and half,” said James Everett, senior manager of the TVA River Forecast Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. He said residents should go to the river center’s website or the National Weather Service website to stay updated on river levels.

Heavy rains are producing a lot of runoff into the Tennessee Valley river system, and TVA’s trying to control rising river levels. By managing its 49 dams, TVA provides flood-damage reduction, navigation, hydroelectric power, water quality and supply and recreation.

Most of the valley received 3 to 5 inches of rain over the past few days, Everett said, but it fell on ground already saturated by a wetter-than-normal January. Weather experts predict scattered weekend rain and possibly heavy rain again next week, which could worsen the problem, he said.

“We have seen significant water in the last three days, close to 4 to 5 inches,” Everett said, adding some areas received up to 6 inches. Although it is not a certainty, rain in the 4-inch range is predicted for next week, he said.

“So, we’ve already seen that much rain in the past few days, and that much more would be significant,” he said.

Everett said although runoff amounts are not what TVA dealt with last February, flooding is a concern in many areas across North Alabama and western Tennessee.

“We are nowhere near where we were in February 2019,” Everett said. “It is similar, but not a verbatim repeat.”

It is the TVA’s job to manage water flows throughout the Tennessee River system.

TVA stores as much water as it can, allowing water levels to build up behind dams as long as possible to ease pressure lower down the system, including controlling rising river levels. However, TVA cannot control the unregulated bodies of water that continue to dump water into the Tennessee River.

As of Friday, Everett said the Tennessee River at Whitesburg, Ditto Landing and Lacey’s Spring was already at flood stage. Florence, in Lauderdale County, was not quite there.

Everett said the Tennessee River at Decatur, between Florence and Whitesburg, is at a higher elevation and it would take a big flow to get it into flood stage.

Western Limestone

Limestone County Commissioner Ben Harrison, who represents District 4, said Happy Hollow and Chapman Hollow roads are experiencing flooding, and Pope Road could be an issue with additional rain.

“The Elk River is backed up at Happy Hollow Road,” Harrison said Friday. “Residents can get out on Turkey Creek Road, but it’s pretty rough.”

He said if more rain falls, the situation could intensify.

“Happy Hallow will get worse if the river crests tomorrow (Saturday), but if workers can get out Saturday and Sunday and start working it back down before the next rain comes, it will help.”

But even with more rain, the flooding won’t be like it was last February, which was substantial.

Harrison, who has the district most prone to flooding due to its proximity to the Elk River, said Chapman Hollow Road is closed at Alabama 99 and will remain so until flooding subsides.

“High trucks can go through, but I wouldn’t recommend driving a car through it. It’s rising.”

He said residents can get to Chapman Hollow via Easter Ferry Road, which is all clear.

“No one in the district is trapped where they can’t get out,” Harrison noted.

He said culverts are not causing the flooding in the area, it is simply a matter of water from the Elk River backing up across Alabama 99 and onto Chapman Hollow.

“Our problems now are from the Elk River, and it could conceivably get to Pope Road, so people should look out for that.”

The Limestone County Emergency Management Agency announced Friday afternoon Buddy Garrett Road and Mooresville Road at Old Highway 20 were impassable due to flooding.