Ohio River highest point since 1997

Heavy rains overnight have sent the swollen Ohio River at Cincinnati to its highest point in 20 years with the river expected to remain above flood stage through the end of the week, a National Weather Service meteorologist said Sunday.

Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain fell across the region from Saturday night into early Sunday morning accompanied by damaging high winds and an unconfirmed report of a tornado in Brown County.

Meteorologist Kristen Cassady said the Ohio River reached 60 feet (18.3 meters) Sunday morning at its Cincinnati recording station, 8 feet (2.4 meters) above flood stage, and could reach 60.6 feet (18.5 meters) sometime Sunday afternoon. It would be the highest recordings since 1997, when the river reached 64.7 feet (19.7 meters).

The Cincinnati Enquirer has reported Cincinnati police had to rescue numerous drivers whose vehicles became trapped in flood waters.

Local streams and rivers overflowing their banks have caused road closings throughout central and southern Ohio.

Republican Gov. John Kasich issued an emergency declaration Saturday in 17 southern and eastern counties.

The Ohio River is expected to begin slowly receding Sunday, but will likely to remain above flood stage until the end of the week, fed by its numerous tributaries, Cassady said.

"The good news is the rain is done and we'll have a couple of dry days for that water to recede," she said.

Another weather system is expected to bring rain during the middle of the week.

Roughly 20 miles east of Cincinnati along the Ohio, more than 40 homes and businesses have been affected by flooding in low-lying portions of the village. Residents began evacuating Friday into Saturday.

"A few people had to move quickly when the river level came up sooner and faster than originally forecast," Village Administrator Greg Roberts said. "Friends and family pulled together."

Rain forecast for later in the week will keep officials and emergency personnel in the village of around 2,600 people on high alert, he said.

"We're going to remain vigilant until the river gets back to where it belongs," Roberts said.

Ohio University in southeastern Ohio canceled classes for Monday because of concerns about potential flooding in the Hocking River.

In Springfield Township in central Ohio's Clark County, two donkeys had to be rescued from a field flooded with 4 feet (1.2 meters) of water, The Springfield News-Sun reported.

Pike County in southern Ohio was preparing for flooding Sunday after the Scioto River rose 2 feet (.61 meters) above its 20-foot (6.1-meter) flood stage, according to The Chillicothe Gazette.