Flooding along the Arkansas River has taken the life of a man from Texas, with warnings still in place.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Pueblo, Colorado, has issued a flood warning for the Arkansas River at Canon City, affecting Fremont County. The water levels are expected to rise above flood stage in the early hours of Friday morning producing minor flooding through to Sunday.
The NWS has advised residents to stay away from the banks of rivers and streams in the area due to them being easily broken and falling into the deadly, fast-flowing water. Twitter users have also shared images of debris floating down the river and fast-flowing waves, as well as people taking to the waters for rafting.
However, the flooding has already cost one life. According to KKTV, Sameer Prasla, 42, from Texas, died when his raft flipped over while in the Arkansas River west of Canon City. He was rafting with a group from the Boy Scouts of America. First responders were unable to revive him at the scene. Pueblo County Sherriff and its Police Department (PPD) have placed restrictions on activities on the Arkansas River due to the dangerous conditions.
The Arkansas River has been hit with flooding for the last month. According to Associated Press, relentless flooding inundated communities and damaged or spilled over levees on three major rivers in two states at the end of May, with historic flooding sending hundreds of people to temporary shelters at Fort Mill.
The NWS has warned that other rivers will be prone to flooding in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Those affected are the Mississippi River near Arkansas City, Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez. Counties and parishes affected are Chicot, Desha, Bolivar, Washington, East Carroll, Issaquena, Tensas, Claiborne, Jefferson, Warren, Concordia, Adams and Wilkison. Mississippi River forecasts are based on rainfall that has occurred and what is to come over the next 48 hours.
There are also active warnings for the next 24 hours for Illinois and Missouri, with the Mississippi River. Areas prone to flooding are Canton, LaGrange, Quincy, Lock and Dam 21, Hannibal, Saverton, Clarksville, Winfield, Grafton, Mel Price LD, St. Louis and Chester.
Flood warnings are also continuing for Fourche Lafave River Near Houston, Texas, affecting Perry County, with major warnings in place for Pendleton and Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
NWS advises that if anyone comes to flooded roads that they should turn back and not drive through.
So. Much. CFS. #ArkansasRiver #Pueblo #Colorado pic.twitter.com/V90jntYbi1
— Klint Skelly (@KlintSkelly) June 11, 2019
Temporary repairs to Faulkner County's 90-year-old Lollie Bottoms levee, which survived historic flooding of the Arkansas River, should begin in roughly three weeks if all goes well, a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday.https://t.co/6jVaW66yBQ pic.twitter.com/rffMpkxghP
— NWA Democrat-Gazette (@nwademgaz) June 11, 2019
In #Salida #Colorado the river is high near Riverside park. Melting of the massive snowpack in the #RockyMountains means the #ArkansasRiver flows fast! It is over the pathway in spots.#COwx #runoff #water #spring pic.twitter.com/j64NqTZyPt
— R A Dale (@goflight001) June 11, 2019
A plastic culvert riding the #ArkansasRiver in #CanonCity @KOAA pic.twitter.com/JK3Qrgw8VY
— Adam Knapik (@adamknapik) June 11, 2019
Some crowd favorite events are already being cancelled due to the high water in the Arkansas River. I grew up here and we have seen it higher in years past, at peak. This isn’t peak yet. Wow. pic.twitter.com/A03ThJ8DXd
— Matt Kroschel (@Matt_Kroschel) June 11, 2019
RIDING THE WAVES: Some people want to watch the Arkansas River’s high flows in Canon City, this kayaker is experiencing it. @KOAA pic.twitter.com/y6dKVxw99N
— Carl Winder KOAA (@CWinderKOAA) June 11, 2019
The Arkansas River looks more like a fast moving lake. The water levels are the highest I have ever seen them. pic.twitter.com/JT70DPbDZM
— Petkash Photog KKTV (@mpetkash) June 11, 2019
Mississippi State fans heading to Omaha, be aware that parts of I-24 are closed due to flooding. Please take the route suggested by google maps. You can also take I-35 in Kansas City to Des Monies, then, I-85 from Des Monies to Omaha. We will update throughout the week. #mswx pic.twitter.com/sMMeHgCL6g
— James Bishop (@NMSCAS_JB) June 12, 2019
#ArkansasRiver today in Buena Vista, #Colorado. pic.twitter.com/3Jrywcl7fM
— Wyoming Cowgurl (@CowgurlWyoming) June 12, 2019
@weatherchannel @DrRickKnabb #turnarounddontdrown The Arkansas River our hurricane expert Dr Rick Knabb on @wunderground been talking about flood insurance and telling people to stay off road ways and never driving through barricades and always using the saying turn around don't pic.twitter.com/JRbTckBrwk
— Scootie Kendall (@scootie_weather) June 12, 2019
Those living in flood prone areas or along the Arkansas River, keep water levels monitored. Main precip core showing broad area of 1"+ rainfall rates in 1 hour. #kswx #okwx 7:15 PM CDT 6/11/2019 pic.twitter.com/oaJnwBBGdH
— Jon Morrow (@Mes0M0rr0w_OKWX) June 12, 2019
LOOK AT ALL THAT DAM WATER: Bureau of Reclamation is releasing water at Pueblo Dam. This is 3 weeks late because of weather. The bureau says it is good news for farmers and people who rely on water, bad news for tubers and people who use the Arkansas River recreationally. @KOAA pic.twitter.com/rXcx4BxECs
— Carl Winder KOAA (@CWinderKOAA) June 11, 2019
Tree debris takes aim at the kayak play hole in downtown Salida, Colorado. The Arkansas River is running 4K+ CFS and high water advisories are in place on 3 sections of the river already. We haven’t hit peak yet, folks. @CBSDenver @COFloodUpdates @KOANewsRadio pic.twitter.com/R00EcVrEyQ
— Matt Kroschel (@Matt_Kroschel) June 11, 2019
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