By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Heavy overnight downpours brought multiple inches of rain to Shelby County on Dec. 27, causing area emergency agencies to close some roadways and issue travel advisories ahead of the New Year’s Day weekend.

Police departments encouraged drivers to avoid several roadways on the morning of Dec. 28 due to water over the roadways.

At 7:12 a.m., the Alabaster Police Department said Sixth Avenue Southwest at Buck Creek Park and Highway 17 at Fox Valley were closed due to standing water on the two roads.

The APD said the following roads were also impacted by standing water, but were passable as of the morning of Dec. 28:

-Shelby County 87 at Bama Concrete
-U.S. 31 at the lime plant
-Butler Road at Windy Oaks

The Helena Police Department also reported hazardous driving conditions on the following roads in the city:

-Elm Street at the creek.
-Shelby County 261 at Limestone Drive
-Shelby County 52 West at the Church of Cahaba Bend
-Roy Drive at Old Kendrick Road

The Pelham Police Department did not report any significant flooding. On the morning of Dec. 28, the only road closed was Oak Mountain Circle, which is not a main road and is located behind McDonald’s on Alabama 119. The rear parking lot at Chick-Fil-A was also under water for some time.

The National Weather Service was warning of further flooding in central Alabama throughout the weekend, as storms are expected to drop another 2 to 3 inches of rain onto an already saturated soil throughout the day on Dec. 28.

“The moderate to heavy rainfall will continue through the afternoon and may lead to flash flooding, especially in low lying and poor drainage areas. Minor rises on area rivers and waterways are expected as well, in addition to rises along flashy creeks and rivers,” read the National Weather Service’s hazardous weather outlook for Dec. 28.

Law enforcement agencies are encouraging drivers to be particularly careful when driving on area roadways over the next few days, especially during low visibility times at night, as roadways could become flooded quickly.