Good news and bad news with weekend weather

There’s good news and bad news when it comes to this weekend’s weather.

The bad news is that more rain is expected overnight Thursday and on Friday–SW GA could get more than an inch of rain during the day on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

The good news is twofold: no rain is forecast between Saturday morning and next Thursday, and we should see some sunny weather during that time frame, perhaps allowing for some time for the ground to dry out.

The second piece of good news is that while the Spring Creek is near flood stage and The Flint River is rising, neither are expected to have significant flooding.

The Flint River at Bainbridge was at 21.86 feet as of 8:45 p.m. Thursday, May 1, and is currently forecast to crest at 23.6 feet around midday Sunday, which lower than previously forecast. The flood stage at Bainbridge is 25 feet.

However, a flood warning has been issued for the Spring Creek, which will is expected to crest at slightly above the flood stage of 16 feet (at Iron City) on Friday (see forecast graphic below).

Decatur County officials are continuing to monitor the Big Slough, a natural depression that runs from Mitchell County into Decatur County and holds local runoff water. Decatur Fire and Rescue Chief Charlie McCann said last week that the Big Slough has been filling with water from local rainfall. Decatur County Public Works Director Dennis Medley said Tuesday that Slough Loop Road, which experienced catastrophic flooding a few years ago, had been closed after heavy rainfall earlier this week.

We will keep you updated on weather and any potential for flooding here on sowegalive.com and our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/sowegalive

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR THE SPRING CREEK NEAR IRON CITY (CR 16). * UNTIL FRIDAY AFTERNOON …OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED. * AT 3:30 PM THURSDAY THE STAGE WAS 15.9 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FLOOD STAGE IS 16.0 FEET. * IMPACT …AT 16.0 FEET …SPRING CREEK BEGINS TO OVERFLOW LOW LYING AREAS.

Your weekend forecast:

Tonight
Showers likely after 2am. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 59. Calm wind becoming north northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday
Rain. High near 69. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 54. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 85.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 59.