Posted 9:37 a.m.

Update 12:39 p.m.

PARKERSBURG - Water is over flood stage in several counties in the region including Roane and Gilmer counties because of the heavy rains passed through the region Sunday and early Monday, officials said.

Widespread flooding is reported in Roane County where Deputy Sheriff Kevin Unger said the southern portion of the county has been heavily flooded and areas of the county seat are flooded as well.

"In the south you can't get through on U.S. 119 or West Virginia 36," he said. "In Spencer, the middle school football and baseball fields are under water.

"In Spencer the water is up to the foundations of houses along Front Street."

In Gilmer County, 911 dispatchers report the Little Kanawha River has has risen to 24.25 feet, one foot above flood stage. They said the emergency services operations center will open at 1 p.m.

In Doddridge County dispatchers report West Virginia 18 has been closed in two areas, They said the north lane has been closed at the high school football field and the south lane has been closed at Meat House Fork.

As of 12:30p.m., no flooding has been reported for Ritchie County.

Schools were affected Monday morning in Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Ritchie and Roane counties by high water because of the rain, officials said.

Heavy rains that has pounded the counties within the last 24 hours is expected to wane as the day wears on, said a National Weather Service meteorologist. High water, downed trees and downed power lines have close school in those counties.

Thad Truitt, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston, said those areas, some of which have seen more than 2 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, should see improved conditions.

Glenville received 2.11 inches of rain the last 24 hours, compared to 1.67 inches for Grantsville and 1.40 for Spencer.

"A heavy swath of rain is moving through the area." Truitt said.

Truitt said no major flooding is expected, though there would be some issues with smaller streams that empty into larger rivers, such as the Little Kanawha River.

"Everything should stay below flood stage," he said.

Roger Probst, superintendent of Calhoun County Schools, announced school would closed late Monday morning.

"We were open, but we've shut down," he said. "We turned our buses around and all our children are accounted for and they are home."

While schools were closed in Gilmer and Roane counties, officials announced early school closings in Calhoun, which were closed at 9 a..m., 10:30 a.m. in Doddridge County and Ritchie County will dismiss classes at noon.

Officials reported W.Va 16 south of Chloe in Calhoun County was closed due to high water and downed power lines.

Probst said maintenance personnel at Arnoldsburg Elementary are working on flood control at the school.

"We have had flooding problems at Arnoldsburg before," he said. "They are moving furniture out of the way and sandbagging doors in case of flood."

Officials were also reporting flooding in Roane County in Alvord and Spencer, where they were anticipating water getting into some homes by this afternoon.

"There is no major flooding expected and the minor stuff should improve gradually," Truitt said.