With a recent heat wave ending, one will likely expect flooding rivers to show significant drops in levels. The James River at Huron doing the opposite with a re-crest of around 17 feet expected on July 28th. Hydrologist Mike Gillespie at the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls says the heavy rains of a few weeks ago were to much for the hot weather to overcome.
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/07/jimriver1.mp3|titles=jimriver1]Back flows from the Missouri River have had no effect on the latest rise on the river at Huron…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/07/jimriver2.mp3|titles=jimriver2]Gillespie says the Jame River at Huron has crested four times this year…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/07/jimriver3.mp3|titles=jimriver3]The recent humidity hampered the evaporation of flood waters, but the 100-plus degree did help some impact on lowering river levels. Gillespie says the high water played a big role in producing dew points in the upper 70’s to low 80’s in creating the oppressive, jungle-like conditions felt last weekend and earlier this week. Barring any more heavy rain, he expects all of the James River except the area near Stratford on the Brown-Spink County line to fall below flood stage by freeze up this fall. The James is again encroaching on Jersey Avenue.