Credit Jessica Elizabeth Darnell for photo
The floodgates along the dams at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are sending water rushing through the gates at more than 300,000 cubic feet per second at Kentucky Dam and more than 120,000 cubic feet per second at Lake Barkley.
TVA says they are working closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers to spill a lot of water in anticipation of flooding along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
Based on the forecast elevations, TVA is predicting that by Saturday, some of the gates will close which will allow the rapid increase of both lakes.
This will help the flooding situation on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, but at the same time, both Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are expected to go above 359 feet by late this weekend.
The estimated gate closures on both lakes will go from 303,000 cfs on Kentucky Lake to an estimated 120,000 cfs, and from 120,000 cfs on Lake Barkley to an estimated 15,330 cfs — a reduction of 87 percent on the flow of Lake Barkley.
Those along both lakes are being advised to be aware of rapid water level increases over the next several days on the lakes.