After almost four inches of rain hit the Fulton area Friday, the National Weather Service on Saturday increased its forecast from moderate to severe flooding along the Missouri River, which serves as Callaway County's southern boundary.
The Missouri River near Chamois is forecast to crest at 28.2 feet early Sunday afternoon. At 27 feet, the Mokane levee just east of Mokane will overtop near this height.
The National Weather Service cautioned that any heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday could cause the river to rise even higher than predicted.
Major flooding is forecast on the Missouri River at Jefferson City. The river is predicted to crest shortly after noon today at 30.7 feet in Jefferson City.
The National Weather Service lists as "moderate" any flooding above 25 feet at Jefferson City. It describes any river levels above 30 feet at Jefferson City as "major" flooding.
Michelle Kidwell, Callaway County emergency management director, helped sandbag efforts Saturday at the Renz Farm in Callaway County near Jefferson City.
"Friday was a nightmare in Fulton for all the problems we had with flash flooding and severe weather," Kidwell said.
Kidwell did not confirm tornadoes in Montgomery County. "We have no reports," Kidwell said, "of actual tornado damage but there was confirmed rotation spotted in the clouds in Montgomery County."
Kidwell said some people left their homes as a precaution against flash flooding in Fulton on Friday but it was not necessary to organize an effort to assist people in leaving their homes.
The Missouri River levee at Wainright and the Jacobs levee near Tebbetts in Callaway County are expected to hold up to 31 feet of water but the prediction Saturday that it would reach 30.7 feet is dangerously close to that levee's maximum.
Without extra sandbagging, the Renz levee and the Capitol View levee protecting the Jefferson City Airport are breached at about 30.5 feet.