Early morning update: Rain, sleet and snow?

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By Rick Rector | Friday, March 21, 2008 |

Good Friday, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 36 degrees and breezy under overcast skies. The wind was really whipping the leaves around this morning on the way in to work. And I just raked my yard yesterday. A number of city, state, and federal offices are closed today. Check out the list below.

Today’s National Weather Service forecast

Rain and snow are possible early this morning before turning to rain between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. and back to rain and snow after 1 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 80 percent, but little or no snow accumulation is expected in the Q-C. Some thunder also is possible with a high near 45 expected. It will be breezy, with a southeast wind 15 to 20 mph becoming northeast. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Tonight there’s a chance of snow, mainly before 1 a.m., with a low around 26 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Parts of northeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois are under a winter weather advisory until 7 p.m. The Dubuque area could get from 2-5 inches of snow and sleet. Periods of snow, sleet and freezing rain will make driving treacherous.

So if you’re heading that way, be prepared for slippery roads and limited visibility. Check out the road conditions before you hit the road. CLICK HERE for Illinois road conditions. CLICK HERE for Iowa road conditions.

Our Rising Rivers

To keep track of local river levels, CLICK HERE.

And don’t forget to follow online editor James T. Gale’s week-long journey observing area rivers and witnessing firsthand what could be in store for the Quad-Cities this flood season. Today he checks out the Cedar and Iowa rivers from Waterloo, Iowa to where they flow into the Mississippi River in Louisa County. CLICK HERE for his daily blog.

Area river levels

The Mississippi River continues to rise slowly in the Quad-Cities, but so far flood advisories for the Mississippi only have been issued downstream from us in Burlington, Iowa. The Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad-Cities is below flood stage, but inching up at 10.8 feet at 4 a.m. Flood stage is 15 feet. The river is expected to continue to rise to 11 feet by Sunday morning and then fall.

The National Weather Service, or NWS, flood warnings for area streams and tributaries continue. The NWS is saying spring snow melt combined with recent rainfall will prolong the flooding on some area rivers and create additional flooding on lower portions of the Mississippi.

Flood warnings continue for the Iowa, Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers in eastern Iowa and the Rock River affecting Henry, Whiteside and Rock Island counties in Illinois. Today’s rain could only compound the problem.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Joslin, Ill., was at 12.76 feet. Flood stage is 12 feet. Minor flooding is occurring. The forecast is for the river to begin a slow fall and reach 12.2 feet by Wednesday. Water is affecting low-lying areas, some summer cottages and Lundeen’s Landing campground.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock at Moline has dipped below flood stage at 11.93 feet. Flood stage in Moline is 12 feet. Minor flooding is forecast. The Rock will rise above flood stage by early Sunday morning and continue to rise to near 12.1 feet by Sunday evening. The river will fall below flood stage by Monday evening. Water is affecting residents near the 27th Street bridge in Moline.

At 3 a.m., the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt was 12.27 feet and causing moderate flooding. Flood stage is 11 feet. The Wapsi is expected to rise to near 12.4 feet by Saturday morning and then begin falling. Additional rises are possible. At 12 feet, overland flooding occurs with water affecting residences along the river between Wheatland and Calamus and businesses along the river near Calamus. Homes along old U.S. 61, county road E63 north of the river near Toronto and the lowest roads in Buena Vista also are affected.

At 4 a.m., the Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa, was above flood stage at 15.08 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet. Moderate flooding is occurring. The Cedar is cresting and is expected to fall back below flood stage by Tuesday morning. Water is affecting Edgewater Road in Conesville, yards and access roads of residences along Iowa Highway 22, lowest sections of campgrounds just north of I-80 along the river, the lowest sections of Jack Shuger Memorial Park in Moscow and 152nd Street north of County Road F70. Saulsbury Road, Lindle, Keokuk and Elder avenues and Hoot Owl Junction are also affected by the high water.

At 3 a.m., the Iowa River at Columbus Junction, Iowa, was at 21.11 feet with minor flooding occurring. Flood stage is 19 feet. The river is cresting and will fall below flood stage Monday evening.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River in Wapello, Iowa was at 23.39. Flood stage in Wapello is 20 feet. Moderate flooding is occurring. The river is cresting and will fall below 22 feet by Monday. Water is affecting residences near the U.S. 61 bridge.

Good Friday closings

Several public offices and services are affected by the Good Friday and Easter Sunday holiday, including:

Federal — Post offices will be open today with regular home mail delivery.

MetroLINK — The transit service will operate as usual today and Saturday. There will be no services offered Sunday.

Iowa Cities and Counties

Bettendorf — City offices will be closed today, and garbage, bulky waste and recycling will be collected as usual. Transit will operate on its regular schedule. The Life Fitness Center will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and closed on Sunday. Palmer Hills Golf Course will be open both days, weather permitting. Palmer Grill will be open for all meals both days. The Community Center will be closed today and Sunday. The library will be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and Saturday and will be closed Sunday. The Family Museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday and closed Sunday.

Clinton — City offices will be closed today. Garbage will be collected as usual. The Department of Parks and Recreation offices will be closed today. The Lower Level of the Ericksen Community Center will be open until 4:30 p.m. today, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and the center will be closed Easter Sunday.

Davenport — City offices and the public works center will be closed today. The library will be open. Vander Veer Conservatory will be open. The Adler Theatre Box Office will be closed. Parking meters will not be enforced, and there will be no charge to park at the Redstone parking ramp (101 Main St.), the RiverCenter parking ramp (102 E. 2nd St.) and the Harrison Street Ramp (202 Harrison St.). Regular weekday CitiBus service will be provided. The Compost Facility will be closed, and garbage and recycling will be collected as usual.

Eldridge — City offices will be open today.

LeClaire — City offices will be closed today.

Scott County Courthouse — County offices will be open today.

Iowa driver’s license stations — Offices will be open today.

Iowa Workforce Center — Offices will be open today.

Illinois Cities

East Moline — City offices will be closed today.

Moline — City offices will be closed today. Black Hawk College facilities will be closed today and no classes will be held Saturday.

Milan — Village offices will be closed today.

Rock Island — City offices will be open today.

Silvis — City offices will be closed today.

Rock Island Courthouse — Offices will be open today from 8 a.m. to noon.

Illinois Job Services — Offices will be open today.

Illinois driver’s license stations — Offices will be open today.

Brotherhood to hold holiday hunt

The Ranch Riders Motorcycle Brotherhood will host an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport. This hunt is open to children ages 12 and under, and a $2 donation per child is requested. There will be four separate egg hunts according to age, as well as a separate field for children with special needs, plus games and raffles. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Therapy Center of the Quad-Cities. For more information, e-mail bobclancy1948@yahoo.com.

Organization to hold holiday event

The Clinton Department of Parks & Recreation and Animal Birth Control will host Easter with Your Dog from 10:45 a.m. unto 12:30 p.m. Saturday 22 at the upper level of the Ericksen Community Center, 1401 11th Ave. N., Clinton. There will be an Easter egg hunt, singing contest, dog costume parade, tricks competition and silent auction. Registration costs $5. To register, call (563) 243-1260.

Davenport Library to host wellness workshop

The Davenport Public Library-Fairmount and Tree of Life will hold a free workshop series, “Discover Wellness,” at 10 a.m. Saturday 22 at the library, 3000 N. Fairmount St., Davenport. The topic will be the obesity epidemic, and will include ways to prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer and Type-2 diabetes. For more information, call (563) 328-6833 or visit davenportlibrary.com.

Check out flight times

Flying? CLICK HERE to check flight status, wait times and more for regional airports, including the Quad-City International Airport in Moline and O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

See news happening? Share it

Stuck in traffic? See an accident or fire on your way to work? Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and road conditions, street closures/detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region.

Road work

Here is a partial list of road construction work in your area. CLICK HERE to view complete list. Davenport

— 67th Street between Eastern Avenue and Jersey Ridge Road closed indefinitely because of excessive mud.

Moline

— North Shore Drive closed between 16th and 26th streets.

— South Shore Drive closed east and west of 27th Street.

— 60th Street closed south of Green Valley Park.

— North Shore Drive closed between 48th Avenue and Interstate 74.

— Avenue of the Cities will be closed between 27th to 34th streets for a sewer and road construction project. Traffic will use 12th Avenue detour.

Rock Island

— Blackhawk Road (Illinois 5) road reconstruction project affects the area between 24th to 38th streets. Although the road will remain open during the project, drivers should expect delays and should be alert for flaggers who will be directing traffic past the various works operations.

Henry County

— Osco Road from Illinois 81 to U.S. 6 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Grange Road from Geneseo to Illinois 92 until May 1. Max gross vehicular weight is 10 tons. All permit loads prohibited. Slow down and watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

— Illinois 82 from the Green River to 2.8 miles north of U.S. 6 until June 1. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted 15 feet wide.

— Cleveland Road 250 feet east of Illinois 84 beginning March 31 until April 4. Both lanes closed for crossing repair. Watch for heavy congestion in the construction area. Use alternate routes when possible.

Mercer County

— Illinois 94 from 1.9 miles north of Illinois 17 to Edwards River until Oct. 17. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted to max width of 10 feet 6 inches. Expect delays.

Rock Island County

— Illinois 5 at Illinois 84 until Nov. 15. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction as each half of the bridge is removed and replaced. Drivers are strongly urged to use extreme caution when driving through construction areas. Slow down and watch for workers.

Whiteside County

— Freeport Road from Sterling to Pilgrim Road until May 1. Northbound and southbound lanes closed at times. Traffic reduced to a maximum weight of 11 tons.

— Garden Plain Road from Illinois 84 to U.S. 30 until May 1. Westbound lane closed. Traffic restricted to a maximum weight of 5 tons per axle.

Muscatine County

— U.S. 61 will be reduced to one lane in both directions with a 12 feet width limit in both directions at Muscatine County Road G28 for bridge construction until Nov. 26.

Plot a pothole

Had your teeth rattled by a car-eating pothole? First, call the city where the pothole is located. Here are the phone numbers: Davenport: 326-7923; Bettendorf: 344-4088; Moline: 797-0425; Rock Island: 732-2200; East Moline: 752-1573. Second, go online CLICK HERE and add it to our pothole map. Find out where the worst potholes are in the Quad-Cities.