A Flash Flood Warning was issued for parts of Rock Island County early Friday morning due to a rapid rise on the Rock River. Shortly after midnight, an ice jam caused a rapid rise of the river level. In some places, the water rose two feet in just a matter of an hour or two. Around 4:00am, the ice jam broke free, allowing the water to fall back to the level from yesterday. Ice jam flooding is particularly dangerous as ice can make roads impassable, even for large vehicles with four-wheel-drive. Anyone caught in flood water could also experience hypothermia in minutes. Ice jams can break free and then build up again, so be mindful of additional rising! Anyone caught in flood water could also experience hypothermia in minutes.
WQAD News 8's Lauren Simone is reporting live on Good Morning Quad Cities. She talked with law enforcement who said there was a large ice jam between 27th Street and Veterans Bridge (Milan Beltway). But the jam has since broken free, allowing the water to come back down. But it still remains well into flood stage.
North Shore Drive and South Shore Drive are affected by high water. Some homes along US-6 in Coal Valley could also see high water levels with any additional ice jams. In addition, the Green Valley Soccer Complex could have high water.
The water level could rise further until the ice breaks free or the water finds a way downstream.
A Flash Flood Warning is issued when rapid water rises are expected to cause inundation of roads and homes. There is also a Flood Warning in effect for the Rock River due to the fact the waterway is above flood level.
WQAD will have full coverage of this flooding all morning long on Good Morning Quad Cities.
This is a developing story.
