So far we've dodged the flooding bullet

SUNDAY - 8:30 A.M. UPDATE

Suddenly it's winter again. The warm temperatures that melted all the snow last week melted again themselves. On Saturday evening snow started falling. Water on the Riley has receded from Saturday's high marks. As viewers go out today check where the snow stops along the creek bank to observe the highest flood level.

SATURDAY - 8:30 P.M. UPDATE

While the flow of water on the Riley is fast, all bridges are open to traffic. East College Avenue is completely passable. Water is slowing creeping into the old baseball diamond on lower Marbeck lawn at Bluffton University. The rain has turned to light snow and it continues to fall.

SATURDAY - 3:30 P.M. UPDATE

Compare this photo taken at 11:30 a.m. with the photo on the top of the home page, taken at 3:30 p.m. Both were taken near the same spot on the path between the university lagoon and the Little Riley. Click on image to enlarge.

Bluffton holds its breath as the Riley Creek slowly rises. The creek's rise is due to rain and the fact that the ground is soaked from last week's melting snow.

A quick trip around Bluffton in mid-afternoon on Saturday reveals that the 1,800 sandbags created in the past week cover doorways and basement windows of low-lying residences along the stream.