About 3.73 inches of rain fell on Richmond and Columbia counties during a 48-hour period from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon, causing minor flooding in Augusta, according to the National Weather Service.
In Appling and other areas along the Clarks Hill Lake, some boat docks were left under water and residents used rowboats and kayaks to reach the docks.
In downtown Augusta, the rapid flooding submerged the parking lot along the Savannah River boat docks and a few cars were under water early Thursday morning. While the waters had receded by mid-afternoon, the Marina, Boat House and Baurle boat ramps have been closed until further notice, according to a news release from Richmond County Fire Department/Emergency Management, because the river is at dangerously high levels.
Also, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for Augusta and along the Savannah River
on Thursday afternoon that will last until early Sunday morning. The NWS is reporting that the river is
at 117.1 feet, the news release said.
People should avoid kayaking or boating until further notice, it said.
In Columbia County no damage was reported, said Cassidy Harris, spokeswoman for Columbia County’s government. She said work crews inspected areas that have flooding problems and found no issues.
A few boardwalks were under water in the nature trail of the upscale River Island neighborhood along the Savannah River off Blackstone Camp Road. No homes were damaged by the flooding and workers parked cars on high ground for the pop-up Mercedes vehicle dealership in the neighborhood. The cars were on display in connection with the Masters golf tournament.
The Reed Creek Nature Park in Martinez at Park Lane and Furys Ferry Road is prone to flooding, but there was no visible damage Thursday afternoon and a few nearby homes that often flood were undamaged.
The National Weather Service predicts zero rain for Richmond and Columbia counties until Friday April 15. Saturday temperatures are expected to be as cold as the low 40s and will dip into the upper 30s on Sunday. Next week, temperatures will climb into the 80s.
Joshua B. Good is a staff reporter covering Columbia County and military/veterans’ issues for The Augusta Press. Reach him at [email protected]
