Rain Brings New Flooding In Midwest

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The rain just isn’t letting up in much of the nation’s midsection. And that means renewed flooding threats, and a longer stay away from home for people who were forced out by the floodwaters.

Up to an inch of new rain fell in parts of Missouri and Illinois overnight, after some strong downpours the previous night. And forecasters look for more rain through Friday from weather systems rolling across Iowa.

In Polk City, 5 inches of rain has fallen since Wednesday afternoon. A forecaster says even an inch of additional rain could cause flash flooding in southeastern Iowa.

The Mississippi River has fallen below 25 feet in Canton, Missouri. But officials are keeping an eye on the weather in Iowa, and they aren’t yet lifting a voluntary evacuation in parts of the community. Officials say the levee is still in good shape in Canton, but that the rainfall has hurt levees to the south.

Sandbagging has resumed in Quincy, Illinois, and in St. Charles County outside of St. Louis – where voluntary evacuations are being considered.