You’ll want to give yourself some extra travel time this morning. Heavy and constant rainfall overnight and this morning are resulting in flooding in low-lying and commonly flooded areas. Other roadways are experiencing some standing water and ponding that create dangerous conditions.

The National Weather Service is reporting four to 10 inches of rain have already fallen in the St. Louis/Metro-East area, with another one to three inches expected. Some locations in the Metro-East could receive in excess of 12-inches of rain.

Numerous area departments are responding to submerged vehicles with entrapment at this time.

There are also several power lines down in the area. So avoid these areas and give the power company crews room to work.

In Clinton County, the “sinkhole” area on Route 161 between Albers and New Baden is flooded and only one lane is partially open. IDOT and Illinois State Police have both been notified.

Fire units responded to an area west of Lebanon on US Hwy 50 with a large amount of water across the roadway. That section of US Hwy 50 is closed until the water recedes.

Also, Mascoutah and Lebanon departments have responded this morning to multiple water rescue calls on State Route 4, which has now been shut down to Interstate 64.

Take your time out there. This is being described by the weather service as a dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding event.

Rain and flash flooding are expected to stick around until around 11:30 this morning.

Remember: never use cruise control when driving on wet roads and if water is across the roadway, turn around. Don’t drown.