Middle Georgia motorists urged to use caution; flood threats in effect

Motorists across Middle Georgia are urged to use caution when traveling, with flood threats impacted to remain in place for the next few days.

"If you could stress to people to just slow down and not get in a rush," said Bibb County sheriff's Lt. Randy Gonzalez.

In Bibb County, the Lake Wildwood spillway was closed because of rainfall, 911 reported. Also cones urging caution were placed on the Log Cabin Bridge Road at Log Cabin Drive and Napier Avenue. Standing water on the roadway along Hines Terrace and Ingleside Avenue was also reported.

The National Weather Service is forecasting another wave of rain that may included isolated thunderstorms. these storms may produce heavy rains and flooding.

The potential exists that the storms may become strong enough to produce an isolated tornado, the NWS reported.

A flood warning is in effect for several Middle Georgia rivers, including the Ocmulgee River near Macon affecting Bibb, Houston, Jones, Monroe and Twiggs counties.

The Ocmulgee River was over flood stage at 5 a.m. Wednesday. Minor flooding is expected to continue, with the river expected to fall below flood stage by late Sunday.

Large portions of the Macon Greenway Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, which was closed Tuesday until further notice, are expected to flood north of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard bridge. The flood waters are expected to reach three feet in some portions of the trail.

Also, the entire Amerson River Park as well as the Walker Road Landfill were closed Wednesday due to the rising level of the river. The road to the landfill is covered in water, making it unsafe to drive vehicles there. One of the lower parking lots was covered in water and there are multiple access points to the river.

Large portions of agricultural lands east of Macon that are well downstream are expected to be under one to five feet of water, the NWS said.

Meanwhile, no flooding issues were being reported Wednesday in Houston County.

"Right now, we're holding our own," said Jimmy Williams, executive director for the Houston County Emergency Management Agency.

Other rivers under the flood warning include Falling Creek near East Juliette affecting Jones County, Little River near Eatonton affecting Putnam County, and Flint River near U.S. 19 near Carsonville affecting Crawford, Talbot, Taylor and Upson counties

Also included in the warning are Echeconnee Creek near Byron affecting Bibb, Crawford, Houston and Peach counties and the Ocmulgee River near Hawkinsville affecting Bleckley and Pulaski counties, and the Oconee River near Milledgeville affecting Baldwin and Pulaski counties.

The Oconee River as it passes near Dublin is again on the list and affects Johnson, Laurens, Washington and Wilkinson Counties.

The flood threat is expected to continue through Christmas Day, as multiple rounds of rain, which may become heavy at times, are forecast.

Rainfall amounts may range from one to five inches over this time period, and the potential, though low, exists for damaging winds, isolated tornadoes and hail, the NWS reported.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Middle Georgia motorists urged to use caution; flood threats in effect ."