More rainfall today is expected to exacerbate already challenging road conditions as creeks and rivers overflow. Wednesday, however, will bring sunshine for at least seven days, weather experts said.
    As of Monday evening, Bulloch County officials had only closed one road because of hazardous conditions caused by excessive rain, Bulloch County Public Safety Director Ted Wynn said.
    Honey Bowen Road, next to Ben Grady Collins Road between Portal and the Candler County line, was closed because it was underwater, he said.
    While several counties in the region closed public schools because of hazardous dirt roads, Bulloch County Board of Education spokeswoman Hayley Greene said, as of early Monday evening, schools would remain open today.
    No school bus routes included Honey Bowen Road, Greene said.
    Wynn said he intended to remain in contact with Bulloch County Schools Transportation Director Paul Webb to monitor conditions throughout the night in case conditions worsened.
    Greene said parents would be responsible for transporting children to school should buses be unable to navigate roads this morning.
    Bulloch County, already saturated in most areas, could get at least two more inches of rain today, possibly more, Wynn said Monday.
    “We’re expecting some severe thunderstorms over the next 24 hours, with tremendous downpours,” he said.
    While many dirt roads are “very, very messy,” there had been no reports of accidents or other mishaps to Bulloch County 911, he said.
    Area rivers and creeks are above flood stage in several locations. Wynn said areas with wider river basins, such as many spots along the Ogeechee River, are faring better than some spots along the Canoochee River.
    National Weather Service meteorologist Brett Cimbora, from the Charleston, S.C. office, said Monday that the Ogeechee River measured 10.36 feet at the Rocky Ford landing, where 13 feet is flood level. However, measurements at other locations along the Ogeechee would vary, as in some spots, such as Steel Bridge near Guyton, the river has overflowed its banks.
    Flood status depends “on the nature of the land around” the river, Cimbora said.
    The Canoochee River at Claxton measured at 12.21 feet Monday, over the flood stage at 11 feet, he said.
    Wednesday will bring sunshine and partly cloudy conditions, heralding at least seven days of relief from rainfall. However, he said, when it comes to weather, “anything can happen.”
   
    Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.