Water surrounds the Mill Branch Covered Bridge and a small building on the south end of the Barlow Fairgrounds after heavy rain Tuesday morning caused a branch of Wolf Creek to overflow its bank. Several tributaries of Wolf Creek were overflowing, including one that covered a small section of Ohio 676 near Watertown with water. (Photo by Art Smith)

MARIETTA — Heavy rains hit the area Tuesday causing concerns over high water.

A number of roads were closed in Washington County as of 11 a.m. due to water on the roadway and were considered impassable, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.

Those included Veto Road near Braun Road and Briggs Hill Road, State Route 26 at Goose Run, the 13 mile marker along State Route 676, Bear Creek, the 14 mile marker along Veto Road, the 5/6 mile marker of State Route 821, the 8800-block of State Route 821, Gerken Road, Whipple Run Road at Whiteley Road, Sugar Run Road at Caywood Road, the 4700 block of Barnett Ridge Road, State Route 26 at Moss Run Road, Huck Road at Rainbow Road, the 4.5 mile marker of Welch Road, Vanfossen Road, Main Street in Macksburg, the 19 mile marker on State Route 821, the 14 12 mile marker on State Route 821, State Route 339 at State Route 550 and the 6 mile marker of State Route 821 (Whipple Straights), the sheriff’s department reported.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said he and Wood County Emergency personnel had been driving around the area at 1:30 p.m. checking on road conditions and the levels of area streams and creeks.

Woodyard said that many of the area creeks and streams were staying within their banks but that could change if the rains continue into today. As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, there were no reported road closures in Wood County.

What is normally a small creek nearly reaches two bridges that are part of the Barlow walking path at the Barlow Fairgrounds Tuesday morning. Heavy rain forced many streams to the top of their banks. (Photo by Art Smith)

On Tuesday, most of the Mid-Ohio Valley was under a flood warning issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston.

The warning, which was in effect until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, called for the possibility of flooding caused by excessive rainfall.

The warning covered portions of northeast Kentucky, southeast Ohio and West Virginia, including Gallia, Lawrence, Meigs and Washington County in Ohio as well as Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties in West Virginia.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, officials in Ritchie, Jackson, Roane, Pleasants and Wirt counties reported no roads closed due to high water.

After rain throughout the day Tuesday, the National Weather Service is calling for additional rain today with showers and possibly a thunderstorm, before 5 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 p.m. The temperature is expected to reach 64 today and the chance for precipitation will be 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible, the weather service reported.

Tonight, there will be a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9 p.m. The low is expected to reach 39. It is expected to be partly sunny on Thursday with a high of 50 with a 20% chance of rain going into the evening.

There will continue to be a 30-40% of rain through the weekend.

The Ohio River has been rising but is expected to crest below flood stage. The Ohio River at the Pumphouse in Marietta is expected to crest at 25.9 feet on Thursday, Jan. 5, at around 1 a.m. Flood stage is at 35 feet.

The Ohio River at Parkersburg is expected to crest at 26.7 feet on Thursday, Jan. 5, at around 7 p.m.. Flood stage is at 36 feet.