The rain is gone, but rivers keep rising on the Northshore

Three days of heavy rain have quickly brought many streams and rivers in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes to flood stage.

"Major" flooding is expected along the Bogue Chitto River between Tylertown, Franklinton, Enon, and Bush. Flood stage at Franklinton is 12 feet; the Bogue Chitto will crest Sunday at 7 feet above flood level. The Bogue Chitto Heights subdivision has already begun to flood, and homes on the west bank north of Highway 10 will also flood.

Forecasters say property along the Pearl River will see "major" flooding in Washington and St. Tammany Parishes, as well as Pearl River and Hancock Counties in Mississippi.   The flood stage for the Pearl at Bogalusa is 18 feet; the Pearl is expected to crest at 22 feet Tuesday evening.   

At 20 feet, woodlands and crop acreage along the Pearl will be flooded; at 21 feet, forecasters say property east of Highway 21 will flood along Bogalusa Creek.

As Bogalusa Creek backs up, the sewage treatment plant will be threatened, and homes south of Bogalusa Creek and east of Highway 21 will flood.

At the town of Pearl River, flood stage for the pearl is 14 feet; forecasters say the river will rise to 18.5 feet by Wednesday afternoon. At 19 feet, major flooding of River Gardens is expected, and moderate flooding of lower portions in Magnolia Forest subdivisions. The Indian Village road access to River Oaks subdivision will be under water at several places.

A flood warning also continues for the Tchefuncte River above U.S. Highway 190 near Covington. Flood stage for the Tchefuncte at this point is 20 feet, and the river is expected to peak at 24 feet Monday morning, causing minor flooding of the Tchefuncte Campgrounds.

The flooding of the Tchefuncte will also cause problems at Folsom, where "moderate" flooding is forecast by the National Weather Service. Flood stage in Folsom is 16 feet, and the river will crest at 18 feet by Sunday afternoon, possibly swamping Highway 40.

Minor flooding is also expected this weekend for the Bogue Falaya at Camp Covington, as that river crests about a half-foot above flood stage.

The Bogue Falaya will cause more serious flooding in Covington, where the river will crest about 2.5 feet above flood stage by Sunday morning, causing flooding of Bogue Falaya River Park, and inundating some classrooms at Christ Episcopal School Grounds.

A flood warning for the Tickfaw River is in effect through Tuesday evening. The flood stage of the Tickfaw is 13 feet near Montpelier, and it is expected to crest at 16 feet by Monday morning.