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Flooding? south...how do you know?

rick601

New member
Hope the subject line isn't too cryptic. Planning to leave May 19 (week and a half) for Arkansas Ozarks , rogers Ak, Missouri, Memphis, Clarkesdale Mississippi, New Orleans, Austin...(not in that order!!) from upstate NY. Floods and raining now, I realize that can change- but what about the consequences? ie how many days after Missouri floods do the effects reach Ms, and Louisiana? Part of me says just play it by ear- all our destinations and route are negotiable, and part of me says go somewhere else! Hence the last part of my question- reliable accurate information. It seems to me that weather reporters and networks want to paint the worst- if there isn't flooding they will find some or make it up. That hilarious image of a reporter in a canoe on a weather report while a pedestrian walks by in ankledeep water! What short and longterm weather AND CONDITION (not the same) sources have you found reliable for planning and on the road?
 
I keep I Drive Arkansas on my phone. https://www.idrivearkansas.com/
It does a good job of showing closed or flooded roads at a quick glance.

Also Google Maps does a good job of showing closed roads.
Just enter a few towns on a route you want and Google will show a red circle on closed roads.
 
Austin Texas can have freaky weather and there's a lot of runoff because it's mostly rock.
A few days ago henzilla had about 7" of rain in 6 hours. Yesterday they had 2" in less than a hour.
When they get rains like that you need to be careful riding the back roads because of all the low water crossings.
 
I keep I Drive Arkansas on my phone. https://www.idrivearkansas.com/
It does a good job of showing closed or flooded roads at a quick glance.

Also Google Maps does a good job of showing closed roads.
Just enter a few towns on a route you want and Google will show a red circle on closed roads.

Hmmm I just tried Google on a route that has a closed road on IDrivearkansas (tuckerman to Cord) Well it takes me on a 51 minute route instead of an 18 minute route (route 37)- but says nothing about road condition- and if I drag to the shorter route it doesn't say there might be a problem. I know goog has traffic conditions but I'm not seeing closures specifically- though the absurdly longer suggested route suggests they know SOMETHING! lol
 
Hmmm I just tried Google on a route that has a closed road on IDrivearkansas (tuckerman to Cord) Well it takes me on a 51 minute route instead of an 18 minute route (route 37)- but says nothing about road condition- and if I drag to the shorter route it doesn't say there might be a problem. I know goog has traffic conditions but I'm not seeing closures specifically- though the absurdly longer suggested route suggests they know SOMETHING! lol
When I zoom in on 37 with Google it shows red circles for road closed and it will reopen May 11th.
 
When I zoom in on 37 with Google it shows red circles for road closed and it will reopen May 11th.

huh! no luck- though I did get a "This roasd may be closed at certain times or days" on the detailed directions...gonna look into settings and try on my phone. no biggie but I'm curious- and I see it could be a useful feature. Thanks.

EDIT AHA! tweaking the settings did it- shows where with the red dot as well as a dotted red line!! I had to activate the traffic setting also added terrain- but I think it was the "traffic" setting that did it. Thanks again
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We have travelled across the states mentioned during flood events. Basically wing it as what was flooded and on the news yesterday may be fine the next.

One trip along the Mississippi had detours everywhere and we just re-routed accordingly. As one friend told us leaving Hot Springs,AR, headed to flooded Missouri, "if you watch the Weather Channel too long, you'll never ride." We still use that line on each other as we head out.
The road info for Arkansas is good and updated somewhat daily...only once was something closed on the site was open when we passed thru. I just highlight the possible detours and options and be ready to change course as needed. Too many fun roads to miss the opportunity!

The big rivers take days to pass water downstream and roads can be flooded for days/weeks.I wouldn't change plans just with that going on...but that's me.

Biggest advice is to get off the road early, especially if no reservations as flood conditions has a lot of folks headed to hotels...including FEMA and other first responders if it's a big event.
Also riding in flash flood alley labeled states after dark is not a wise move. I hit a flooded low water dip on a very familiar road downstream from a big rain close to home one night making a Bonzai run to get home.No rain the last 20 miles, but the crossing was over two foot deep when I struck it and even with a lot of lights, I never saw the knocked down stream gauge or recognized the hazard.
I changed my mindset after that near miss...How I didn't go down is still a mystery and a big piece of luck.
 
We have travelled across the states mentioned during flood events. Basically wing it as what was flooded and on the news yesterday may be fine the next.

One trip along the Mississippi had detours everywhere and we just re-routed accordingly. As one friend told us leaving Hot Springs,AR, headed to flooded Missouri, "if you watch the Weather Channel too long, you'll never ride." We still use that line on each other as we head out.
The road info for Arkansas is good and updated somewhat daily...only once was something closed on the site was open when we passed thru. I just highlight the possible detours and options and be ready to change course as needed. Too many fun roads to miss the opportunity!

The big rivers take days to pass water downstream and roads can be flooded for days/weeks.I wouldn't change plans just with that going on...but that's me.

Biggest advice is to get off the road early, especially if no reservations as flood conditions has a lot of folks headed to hotels...including FEMA and other first responders if it's a big event.
Also riding in flash flood alley labeled states after dark is not a wise move. I hit a flooded low water dip on a very familiar road downstream from a big rain close to home one night making a Bonzai run to get home.No rain the last 20 miles, but the crossing was over two foot deep when I struck it and even with a lot of lights, I never saw the knocked down stream gauge or recognized the hazard.
I changed my mindset after that near miss...How I didn't go down is still a mystery and a big piece of luck.

Great advice in general and thanks for sharing the specific experience too! We have tents and credit cards and fifteen days, worry is optional. Re night riding, I try to avoid it anyways. And my Jeep off-roading taught me to never assume the depth of wet! Ok!! I’m back on track.
 
And now that your "back on track"...

Have a look at this weeks/right now Kyle Petty 25th Charity Run through that general area.

On the Twitter site for the trip are the Vimeo video's for each days ride... could your expected conditions be worse than those?

Proper gear, slow down, remain flexible and move along safely. And have a good trip rick601... the weather can't stay like that.

"travel'n" John
 
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