More rain around Columbia, more flooding possible

More rain has brought new worries about potential flooding in parts of the Midlands that remain soggy after last month’s historic storm.

Parts of the Columbia area are expected to receive more than two inches of rain through Tuesday. But areas just northwest of the capital city — including Newberry — will be drenched with more than five inches, sending water into rivers and creeks, the National Weather Service said.

The Saluda and Bush rivers south of Newberry reached flood stage early Monday.

The real impact for Richland and Lexington counties could come a few days after the storm passes. Flood warnings were issued along the Conagree River by the National Weather Service.

The Congaree River near downtown Columbia is expected to swell to flood stage by early Thursday morning. But the Congaree downstream in the Lower Richland area is forecast to crest above flood stage after midnight Monday and remain there through the weekend. Several creeks — including Gills — will contribute to the rising waters southeast of Columbia, said Leonard Vaughan, senior hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Columbia.

The rising river won’t last long after the rain stops later this week. Water in the Congaree tends to rise — and fall — quickly, Vaughan said.

Still, the new batch of rain could flood streams and low-lying areas around the city. Motorists are asked to be careful as they make their way to work Tuesday, authorities said.

State regulators asked dam owners last week to lower lake levels in anticipation of the storms.

At least 36 dams statewide — almost half in Richland County — failed during the rain last month. The state was watching another 75 dams damaged by the surging waters.

SCE&G is monitoring water flowing into Lake Murray, but the utility has no plans to open spillways, which happened during the storm last month, a spokesman said.

Columbia could escape the worst of the new rainfall.

Flood watches were in effect Monday in seven Midlands and Piedmont counties — Lancaster, Chesterfield, Newberry, Fairfield, Kershaw, Edgefield and Saluda — most of which was not hit as hard as Columbia last month.

“That’s a good thing,” Vaughan said, “we don’t need all that rain.”

More than a foot of rain fell on portions of the Columbia region a month ago in a storm considered a once-in-1,000-year occurrence. More rain fell on October than the previous three months combined.

“That’s still a factor,” Vaughan said. “The soil is still saturated.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2015 at 2:15 PM.