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Flash Flooding Risk Continues in Texas; Wildfire Smoke Impacts in the East

Widespread, life-threatening considerable flash flooding is expected in south-central Texas through at least Friday. Catastrophic river flooding and rapid rises on small streams, arroyos, and typically dry washes are expected in the Texas Hill Country. Wildfire smoke is impacting air quality across much of the Great Lakes region into the Northeast U.S. with Air Quality Alerts in effect. Read More >

Every year NWS Louisville does routine hydrology surveys to check river gauge equipment and USGS or flood reference marks at river gauges across central Kentucky and southern Indiana.  Up until now, we've done these on foot documenting what we can see at ground level. 

 

Pictured below is the river gauge at South Fork Licking River at Cynthiana, KY.

 

 

Last week, the first routine hydrology survey using drones gave a unique bird's eye view of the river gauge as well as the area along the river upstream and downstream of the gauge.  This survey information at regular river levels is helpful in documenting what areas could be impacted along the river when flood waters rise. These "impacts" are inserted directly into NWS River Flood Warnings.

 

The video below shows the river gauge at South Fork Licking River at Cynthiana, KY as well as the area upstream and downstream of the gauge.