Water from heavy rains overnight flow over a driveway and into a ditch along Ohio 7 between Marietta and Belpre Thursday morning. (Photo by Art Smith)

PARKERSBURG — Local emergency officials say several low-lying roads in Washington County experienced flooding Thursday as creeks swelled from recent rainfall, though major rivers are expected to remain below flood stage.

Rich Hays, director of the Washington County Emergency Management Agency, said the areas currently seeing high water are locations that historically flood during heavy rain.

“So right now we’re dealing with our areas that normally flood,” Hays said. “State Route 821, State Route 26, County Road 9 — there’s low-lying areas out there that normally flood.”

Hays said water covered portions of Main Street in the Macksburg area early Thursday.

“Main Street in Macksburg is completely covered right now with water, but it looks like the water is starting to recede,” he said.

He said water was also reported across County Road 9 near the four-mile marker. State Route 26 had water up against the roadway during a check earlier in the day, though it had not yet covered the road.

If residents encounter flooded roads, Hays said they should report the conditions to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office so authorities can track closures and hazards.

“The sheriff’s office keeps a running list of flooded roads,” Hays said.

Residents can call 740-376-7070 and select extension 0.

Officials also emphasize that motorists should avoid driving through flooded roadways.

According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Charleston, a flood watch remains in effect Thursday as additional rounds of rain could cause flooding in larger streams and smaller rivers.

“Remember, turn around, don’t drown,” the weather service said in a public advisory, urging residents to report flooding if they see it.

The flood watch includes several West Virginia counties — Wood, Wirt, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Pleasants, Lewis, Roane, Gilmer, Calhoun and Braxton — as well as multiple counties in southeastern Ohio, including Washington, Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Morgan, Perry and Vinton.

River forecasts currently remain below flood stage along the Ohio River. The river at the Marietta Pumphouse in Harmar Village is forecast to crest at 26.2 feet around 7 a.m. Saturday, according to river gauge projections. The flood stage at Marietta is 35 feet.

In Parkersburg, the Ohio River is forecast to peak at 27.1 feet around 1 p.m. Saturday. The flood stage there is 36 feet.

Smaller waterways have seen more significant rises with Duck Creek near Whipple reaching 12.61 feet as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday, meeting the threshold for minor flooding.

Duck Creek near Macksburg crested at 14.8 feet Thursday afternoon before beginning to recede. That level is slightly more than a foot below the area’s observed flood record.

Officials continue to monitor conditions as additional rainfall could affect creek levels and low-lying roads across the region.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com