Areas of central Iowa got huge amounts of rain Saturday night, which caused flash flooding. Unfortunately, though that cleanup is continuing, the Des Moines River is raging. That will be causing a major headache for Iowa travelers in the coming days.

The Iowa Department of Transportation will be closing Highway 30 in central Iowa, by noon on the 4th of July, according to WHO. The highway will be closed between County Road R-18 and Iowa Highway 17, seen in the google maps graphic below. Highway 30 in that area will likely be closed until Friday, July 13. That's when water is finally expected to recede off the roadway.

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Google Maps
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Meanwhile, things are improving at Saylorville Lake. The lake's projected crest has been lowered to 886.61 feet on Sunday, July 8. That's still more than 2-and-a-half feet over the level (884 feet) where water would top the emergency spillway. However, floodgates provide protection for the spillway up to around 890 feet, according to WHO.

For those downstream, that means, in a word, whew.

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Google Maps
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According to the National Weather Service in Des Moines, the next good chance of rain comes Thursday with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Central Iowa will be hoping that rain misses them until water levels get to a much more comfortable level.

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