He said rain is predicted for this morning, then a break in the showers in the afternoon, followed by more rain tonight and most of Sunday and Monday.
After more rain fell the last two days, this is the second-wettest year on record.
From Jan. 1 through Thursday, the region received 34.74 inches of precipitation, more than 13 inches above average, Sites said. The No. 1 record is 38.82 inches set in 2011, followed by 33.95 inches in 1996 and 33.37 inches in 1882.
The wet weather is impacting Butler County road projects, said Betsy Horton, public information officer. She said work throughout the county is being delayed by the constant rain. She mentioned paving projects, and the Liberty Fairfield Road project that includes adding turn lanes and lighting as examples of work delayed by the weather.
The rain is especially frustrating because of the “short window” in March through November to complete some of the projects, she said.
It’s also impacting the depth and rate of the Great Miami River through Butler County, said Mike Ekberg, manager of water data and analysis for the Miami Conservancy District.
He said the river is flowing 22,800 square feet per second, and the average is 4,370 since the data started being collected in 1995. The river is 4.5 feet higher than normal in Middletown, Ekberg said.
In Hamilton, the river is flowing 23,100 square feet per second and the average is 3,530, he said. The river there is also 4.5 feet higher than normal.
Ekberg encouraged boaters to stay out of the water because of the depth and speed of the river. He said if boaters “got in trouble,” it would be difficult for first-responders to perform a water rescue.
Sgt. Kim Peters from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office reported there have been no calls for emergency services because of high water.
Upcoming forecast
Today: Showers possible early with greater risk for storms in the evening
Sunday: Chance of showers or storms early and again late in the day
Monday: Mostly cloudy with chance for showers and storms
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