For the second time on Saturday, severe thunderstorm warnings were issued early Saturday evening and flooding rains fell across most of Marion County.
The Salem Water Plant recorded an additional 1.15 inches of rain from the evening storms, bringing the total for Saturday to 2.31 inches. The Centralia Water Plant recorded an additional 1.02 inches of rain for a Saturday total of 2.29 inches.
The extremely heavy rain in the Saturday evening storm resulted in road flooding. Salem Police had to help push out a vehicle that became stranded in high water on South Hotze Road south of Main Street. Portions of Whitaker Street near Maple also was blocked to traffic as the heavy rains were compounded by a blocked storm sewer line that was cleared by Salem City Crews.
Unlike the early Saturday morning storm that resulted in a large number of tree limbs and a few trees falling, most of the tree issues were in the Southern part of Marion County with the evening storm. The Sheriff’s Department reported a tree split on old Salem Road north of Route 161 and caused a utility line to fall. Trees fell onto the 1900 block of County Farm Road and Route 37 at Crooked Creek. The county called the Illinois Department of Transportation to block off Route 37 near Cartter Road until flood waters receded off the road. The Centralia City Fire Department reported a few downed wires in the Saturday evening storm. However, no major power outages were reported.
As of seven Saturday morning, no gates were open on Raccoon Lake, but water plant officials say that could change as the day goes on.
The rain and cloud cover kept temperatures cool on Saturday, with a high of just 81 degrees.
