Heavy rains this week, in addition to rains last week, have caused rivers in portions of Alabama and Mississippi to swell. Rivers in Dallas County are no exception.

According to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service, the Alabama River is set to crest at 6 p.m. on Saturday at 42.2 feet. This is nearly five feet higher than forecasts earlier in the week had forecast.

As of 8 p.m. Friday, the Alabama River at Selma was already at 41.5 feet.

At the projected crests, pasturelands below Selma are flooded. If the river levels reach 45 feet, “extensive overflow” is projected on low-lying lands with some low roads in the area flooding.

“Water is a very powerful force that should never be underestimated,” Rhonda Abbott, director of the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency, said in a Friday afternoon release. “All citizens should remember some flood safety rules: Move to higher ground and stay away from low-lying areas such as streambed, drainage ditches and culverts; stay out of flooded areas and never drive your vehicle into water of unknown depths or around barricades.”

The Cahaba River in Marion Junction has also reported high levels, standing at 32.67 feet as of 9 p.m. Friday.

The river is expected to crest, around 3 a.m. Saturday at 32.7 feet.

At this level, according to the National Weather Service, there is flooding “around Oakmulgee Creek and cattle need to be moved to higher ground.” There is also overflow of pasturelands at stages above 20 feet, which current conditions clearly are.

In response to flooding concerns, and the fact that water has already covered some portions of county roads, Dallas County officials have closed portions of County Road 329, County Road 179, County Road 923 near River Oaks and a portion of County Road 115 at the intersection of County Road 21.