Some communities along the Rock River were under flood watches or warnings due to ice jams.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Rock River at Como. On Sunday afternoon, March 16 a major ice jam broke up letting more water move downstream.
“There is the risk that additional ice jams could redevelop as there are areas of congested ice downstream almost to Joslin,” said a spokesperson from the NWS.
Major flooding was occurring Sunday and was forecast to continue. The river was expected to rise to more than 2.5 feet above flood stage by Monday and then begin to fall.
The Rock River near Joslin was expected to rise above flood stage on Monday morning and continue rising until that evening. Since the ice jam at Como started to break up, this creates a threat of new ice jams.
At 13 feet, one foot above flood stage, water affects Lundeen’s Landing Campground.
The National Weather Service also issued a flood watch for Whiteside County, Rock Island County and Henry County through Monday evening, March 17. Moline, Rock Island, Sterling, Rock Falls and Kewanee were included in the watch.
Emergency management reports indicated that the Rock River was mostly open water from the Highway 92 Bridge near Joslin to the mouth of the river. Upstream from that bridge, however, the river remained solid ice.
The possibility of ice jams forming increases as temperatures rise.
“Ice jams will be possible through Monday evening along the lower Rock River,” said an NWS spokesperson. “Until the ice leaves the river there is a high risk for ice jams on the Rock River.”
Two more ice jams have developed along; one was Moline Road south of Mellots Road at the boat landing and the other was a quarter-mile upstream of the Moline Road ice jam.
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