UPDATED: Heavy Rains Cause Major Flooding

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UPDATED: Heavy Rains Cause Major Flooding

By Meteorologist Josh deBerge

Overnight and morning thunderstorms dropped more than 5 inches of rain in many places across the Ozarks forcing many streams and creeks out of their banks. The hardest hit area appeared to be Stone County where in Reeds Spring dozens of people were evacuated. Farther north a section of Interstate 44 was closed earlier in the day due to high water, but it has since been reopened although motorists shoud expect delays.

Firefall coordinators cancelled Saturday activities and said the festivities will resume Sunday at 5. They said fields were to muddy and water-logged.

Reeds Spring Police Chief Rick Witthuhn said propane tanks floated free from their bases at Town and Country Propane. The freely floating tanks forced the evacuation of several dozen people. Firefighters helped individuals leave their homes as rain continued to pour down. Witthuhn said a portion of the town was shutdown for some time Saturday morning, but as of 2:50 PM, he said things were returning to normal.

"As far as damage, there is a lot of asphalt torn up off the roads," he said.

Elsewhere around the Ozarks, water rescues were performed in more than 6 counties but no injuries were reported. Near Galena cars were sitting in several feet of water at the James River Canoe outfitter and several mobile homes were under water.

Rainfall reports ranged from 2-3 inches in central Greene County to as much as 5 inches in northern sections of the county. Elsewhere 4.5" was reported in Morrisville, 6.5" in Stone County, 6.28" fell in Kimberling City.

The overnight rains set a new record in Springfield. This June is now the wettest June on record.

SEND YOUR RAINFALL TOTALS AND FLOODING PICTURES TO weather@kspr.com.

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