Some officials in counties east of Macon said they were keeping an eye out for potential flooding as rainwater collects in river basins over the next few days. So far, the Oconee River in Laurens County has risen to 22 feet - a foot above flood stage. By Friday, it might rise as high as 24 feet, which would cause road closures and evacuations. In Bibb County, the Ocmulgee wasn't expected to cause flooding problems. It was expected to crest at 18 feet this afternoon - right at flood stage.
Problems occur when rivers rise several feet past the flood stage.
The Macon area saw 1.09 inches of rainfall from 3 to 7 a.m. Afterward, the daylong drizzling amounted to only a trace of additional water accumulation, said Dean Hutsell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. Overnight, area residents were warned of a very slight chance of thunderstorms and were to expect at least a little more rain. Meteorologists predicted mostly cloudy skies this morning, clearing by the afternoon, with temperatures topping out at about 60 degrees. Despite the rain, meteorologists are still talking about drought.