Flooding Causes Power Outage, Flash Flood Warning Extended

A large tree is to blame for a power outage that affected the Watson area and the south half of Effingham. Police tell us that about 4:45am, flooding caused the large tree to be uprooted and fall across both lanes of South Route 45 near the Watson T, taking power lines with it. Crews had service restored at 5:55am to most of the listening area, although close to 50 people in the immediate area of the fallen tree might be without power until late this morning.

Effingham County Sheriff's Department reported that the tree was cut up and the highway re-opened to traffic just after 7am.

Lake Sara was closed about 7am Monday due to the high waters.

 The National Weather Service has extended the Flood Warning for Effingham County until 10:45am Monday. We spoke with the Effingham County Sheriff's office early this morning, who told us deputies reported several roads underwater, including US 45 at Airport Road and many others. The NWS says radar indicates that 2-5 - 5.5 inches of rain had fallen across the county at 4:45am, although we had one report of 6.1 inches northwest of Effingham.

Details are in our weather section, located here.

Also, if you have a rain gauge, we're asking for area totals. If you'd like to contribute, post it here on our Facebook page.