Low Water Levels Seen in Area

Much-needed rainfall is in the forecast for Saturday, but not a lot of precipitation is expected for the rest of the month.

Paul Otto with Freese-Notis Weather said rainfall will be sparse and short-lived when it does show up.

Scott Ealy of Effingham, who is studying Meteorology at Eastern Illinois University, said the Drought Monitor showed the Severe Drought status expanding this past week.

Ealy took a couple of photos of the Embarras River at the Burl Ives Bridge at Newton to illustrate low water levels...

Ealy said the Embarras water level is similar to what he's seeing in the Little Wabash River at Effingham.