River Stages Rising Even As Rains Subside

Acadiana's waterways are taking on a heavy task of having to drain the more than two feet of rain that has fallen this weekend.

Rivers, bayous,  and coulees are taking on water that is draining from neighborhoods throughout the area. That means, though the rains may have slacked off a little, those marine thoroughfares will continue to swell.

The Vermilion River at Surrey Street has crested at 17.5 feet and, fortunately, is expected to begin falling very gradually during the next week. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service gauges in Lafayette read the waters are at 17.4 feet.

For Acadiana's western boundaries, an even more severe flooding situation is underway.

The Mermentau River at Mermentau is expected to crest at 12 feet by Wednesday morning. According to the National Weather Service that is four feet above the "major' flood stage--a threshhold that was surpassed Sunday morning.

The Atchafalaya River at Butte LaRose has risen slightly to around nine feet, but is well below flood stage, which is set at 20 feet.

To monitor these rivers, and other, visit the National Weather service's Web site at www.water.weather.gov.