Early morning update: A 70 degree day?

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By Rick Rector | Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:24 AM CDT | () comments

Good Wednesday morning, Quad-Cities. At 6 a.m. it’s 48 degrees and breezy in the Q-C.

Today the temperature is supposed to crack 70 degrees for the first time this year. So when is the latest spring day to hit 70 degrees? Looking at historic data from the National Weather Service in Moline dating back to 1901, 67 percent of springs recorded a temperature of at least 70 degrees before April 1. Only 33 percent had the first 70 degree temperature in the month of April. The latest 70 degree or higher temperature on record in Moline was April 27, 1951, when the temperature hit 79 degrees.

In contrast, the earliest 70 degree or higher temperature on record in Moline was on Feb. 15, 1921, when the temperature hit 73 degrees, and on Feb. 15, 1931 when the high reached 79 degrees.

Driving this morning in east Davenport? Jersey Ridge Road south of Elm Street to Middle Road in Davenport remains closed today while private construction crews make repairs to a water main and finish the repair of the street that was undermined during repair of a sewer lateral collapse.

Also in Davenport, parts of South Concord Street are closed due to high water.

Don’t fret if you hear strange noises today coming from Arsenal Island. The central heating plant at the Rock Island Arsenal will be testing boiler four to establish control curves on recently installed stoker feeders. The plant will need to vent steam into the atmosphere which will create some noise during the day.

Today’s weather from the National Weather Service

It will be mostly sunny with a high near 70 degrees. Winds will be between 20 and 30 mph from the south, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Tonight there’s a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 a.m. with a low around 48 degrees.

Today in the Quad-Cities

— Join the American Heart Association for National Start Walking Day today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at SouthPark Mall. Win prizes and receive goodies from mall merchants. The event is free.

River watch: Crests coming

The Quad-Cities remains under a flood warning. To keep track of local river levels, CLICK HERE.

Here’s where area rivers stand this morning.

At 4 a.m., the Mississippi River was at 14.32 feet in the Quad-Cities. The Mississippi at Lock and Dam 15 is expected to continue to rise to 14.9 feet by Friday morning. Several sections of South Concord Street south of River Drive in Davenport have been closed due to high water and the water is at the foundations of several homes on Enchanted Island.

Downriver the river is near flood stage in Muscatine at 16.12 feet at 3 a.m. Flood stage is 16 feet. The river is expected to rise to 16.5 feet Friday morning. Water is affecting the lower portion of the Riverside Park parking lot.

In New Boston, Ill., the river is expected to crest at 17 feet by Saturday afternoon. Flood stage is 15 feet.

In Keithsburg, Ill., the river is expected to crest at 15.3 feet by Friday afternoon. Flood stage is 14 feet. Water is affecting low lying area in Oquawka, Ill.

At 3 a.m., the Wapsipinicon River in DeWitt, Iowa, was at 11.88 feet. Moderate flooding is occurring. Flood stage is 11 feet. The river is expected to rise to 12 feet this afternoon and then begin to fall. Water is affecting county road E63 north of the river near Toronto, the lowest roads in Buena Vista and Walnut Grove Park in Toronto, and homes along old U.S. 61. Water is also affecting low-lying residences between Calamus and Wheatland and some businesses near Calamus.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Joslin, Ill., was at 15.44 feet and falling. Flood stage is 12 feet. A flood warning continues until further notice. Moderate flooding is occurring. The river is expected to fall to 15.2 feet by Thursday morning. Water is affecting Barstow Road between Barstow and Osborn, Lundeen’s Landing/campground, summer cottages and low-lying agricultural land along the river. Water is affecting the Thompson addition.

At 3:30 a.m., the Rock River at Moline was at 14.19 feet and falling. A flood warning remains in effect. Flood stage in Moline is 12 feet. Major flooding is occurring. The river is forecast to fall to 13.9 feet by Thursday morning. Water is affecting residences in the Friendship Farm area and residences near the 27th Street bridge. Water also will also affect homes on South Shore and North Shore drives and cuts off access to homes east of the Interstate 74 bridge in Moline, Vandruff’s Island in Rock Island and 7th Street in Coal Valley. Water also affects portions of 60th Street south of John Deere Road.

At 4 .a.m., the Iowa River in Columbus Junction, Iowa, was 18.9 feet and falling. Flood stage is 19 feet.

At 4 a.m., the Iowa River in Wapello, Iowa, was at 20.73 feet and steady. Flood stage is 20 feet. Minor flooding is expected.

At 4 a.m., the Cedar River near Conesville, Iowa, was at 13.13 feet and holding steady. Flood stage is 13 feet. The river is expected fall below flood stage by Saturday morning. Water is affecting Edgewater Road and 245th Street.

Share the news

Stuck in traffic? See an accident or fire on your way to work? Drop us an e-mail at newsroom@qctimes.com or give us a call at (563) 383-2235 if you see breaking news such as house fires, traffic accidents and road conditions, street closures/detours and water main breaks in the Quad-City region.

Road work

Here is a partial list of road construction work in your area. CLICK HERE to view a complete list.

Davenport

— U.S. 61 reduced to one lane with a width limit of 8 feet in effect until Oct. 31 from Interstate 280 to U.S. 67. Watch out for flaggers on weekdays and Saturdays during asphalt pavement widening and resurfacing on U.S. 61 from Ricker Hill Road to Howell Street, including ramp lanes on Iowa 22.

Moline

— Avenue of the Cities will be closed between 27th to 34th streets for a sewer and road construction project. Traffic will use 12th Avenue detour.

— Airport Road is closed until May 7 as crews complete a parking lot expansion project at the Quad-City International Airport. You still will be able to get to the adjacent Hampton Inn and Suites from Airport Road. All airport traffic must use the airport’s main entrance at Interstate 74 and U.S. 6.

Rock Island

— Blackhawk Road (Illinois 5) road reconstruction project affects the area between 24th to 38th streets until Oct. Although the road will remain open during the project, drivers should expect delays and should be alert for flaggers who will be directing traffic past the various works operations.

Cedar County

— Interstate 80, removing and replacing damaged sections. Patching work will be accomplished in the evening hours between 7 p.m. Monday nights to 6 a.m. Friday mornings; and between 9 p.m. Sunday nights to 6 a.m. Monday mornings. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction throughout the work zone. Motorists are urged to remain alert and use caution when traveling through these interstate areas. The work is scheduled for completion in May.

Clinton County

— U.S. 61 from U.S. 30 to Jackson County Road Y53 will be reduced to one lane in both directions beginning Tuesday until April 22.

Henry County

— Interstate 80 at Illinois 78. Expect daytime lane closures in various locations for guardrail installation and repair beginning May 1 and continuing through July 12.

Mercer County

— Illinois 94 from 1.9 miles north of Illinois 17 to Edwards River until Oct. 17. Traffic will be restricted to one lane and controlled by temporary traffic signals. Oversize loads restricted to max width of 10 feet 6 inches. Expect delays.

Muscatine County

— U.S. 61 will be reduced to one lane in both directions with a 12 feet width limit in both directions at Muscatine County Road G28 for bridge construction until Nov. 26.

Rock Island County

— Illinois 5 at Illinois 84 until Nov. 15. Traffic restricted to one lane in each direction as each half of the bridge is removed and replaced. Drivers are strongly urged to use extreme caution when driving through construction areas. Slow down and watch for workers.

Scott County

— Interstates 80, 280 and 74, removing and replacing damaged sections. Patching work will be accomplished in the evening hours between 7 p.m. Monday nights to 6 a.m. Friday mornings; and between 9 p.m. Sunday nights to 6 a.m. Monday mornings. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction throughout the work zone. Motorists are urged to remain alert and use caution when traveling through these interstate areas. The work is scheduled for completion in May.

Plot a pothole

Had your teeth rattled by a car-eating pothole? First, call the city where the pothole is located. Here are the phone numbers: Davenport: 326-7923; Bettendorf: 344-4088; Moline: 797-0425; Rock Island: 732-2200; East Moline: 752-1573. Second, go online CLICK HERE and add it to our pothole map. Find out where the worst potholes are in the Quad-Cities.