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A soggy Memorial Day weekend ahead; Check river levels before you go paddling

Wes Johnson
Springfield News-Leader

Memorial Day weekend promises to be a soggy one, with rain in the forecast from today until at least next Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters issued a flood warning for Greene County through Saturday, as repeated waves of thunderstorms dropped heavy rain beginning in the early morning hours of Friday.

Folks heading to area lakes and campgrounds would be wise to call ahead to make sure their favorite spots are open, both because of rising water and restrictions in place due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Table Rock Lake was continuing to rise and was at an elevation of 926 feet Friday afternoon. The lake has come up 10 feet since May 1, though it has not reached its flood-pool level of 931 feet. 

Rain is in the forecast for most of the Ozarks on Memorial Day weekend.

Some campgrounds have been closed because of high water. 

Bull Shoals Lake was also rising and has come up 8 feet since May 1. By Friday it was continuing to rise and was only 3 feet below the top of its flood pool elevation of 695 feet.

Stockton Lake is also rising. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake was at an elevation of 874 feet on Friday, 7 feet higher than normal for this time of year.

The Corps cautioned boaters to be on the lookout for trees and debris that might have washed into lakes.

The Memorial Day weekend is an unofficial start to the boating season and many boaters will be taking their vessels out for the first time.

More:River outfitters coping with coronavirus impacts, spring floods

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, during the 2019 Memorial Day weekend, there were seven boating crashes which included two fatalities and three injuries.

Fortunately, no one drowned over last year’s holiday weekend. Troopers arrested 10 people for boating while intoxicated over the 2019 Memorial Day weekend.

Area rivers are likely going to rise with so much rain in the forecast. Paddlers wanting to float this weekend would be wise to check with local outfitters first about river conditions.

A good source for water levels and conditions on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas can be found at Buffalo Outdoor Center.

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Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which includes the Jacks Fork and Current rivers, has a list of outfitters who can provide information about conditions on both of the rivers. 

The national park also updates river closures and conditions on its Facebook page

Friday afternoon, several stretches of the Current River were closed due to high water, but the Jacks Fork River was open to paddlers.

The region was expected to get more rain through the weekend, so river levels could change quickly.