Illinois flooding; 4/26 WV storms

By DAN ROBINSON Editor/Photographer

I'm currently back in West Virginia for a short business trip. On the drive east on Monday, flooding abounded along I-64 between Mount Vernon, IL and the Wabash River. While the extreme degree of flooding in progress to the south (along the Ohio River) is very unusual, the flooded low areas along the I-64 corridor have been an almost yearly sight during my springtime trips west to the Plains. I can only remember 2 or 3 trips when I didn't see these fields flooded.

This pump jack near Mill Shoals, IL is surrounded by a virtual 'bay' that also isolates I-64 as a coastal-like causeway. This whole scene is normally dry agricultural fields.

After work on Tuesday, some weak thunderstorms moved across Putnam County, WV. This view is of a gusting-out storm near Winfield, shot from along the new US 35 highway:

I haven't shot a photo of a West Virginia storm since the end of the 2009 season, which has probably been around 18 months. The timing of this business trip may or may not work in my favor today, as a major outbreak of severe weather may occur in the region late this afternoon and evening. If it can hold off until after I'm done with my obligations, I may be able to get out for my first 'real' WV expedition in 1 and 1/2 years.