UPDATE (WKOW) — Madison city officials might sound repetitious, but the phrase “flash flood watch” should be taken seriously by city residents.

The National Weather Service Friday is forecasting more rain this weekend and into next week.

Lake levels remain high with Lake Monona still 1/2 inch above the 100-year flood level, according to Katie Crawley of the mayor’s office.

She reminds residents that even if one inch of rainfall doesn’t sound like much, it can result in a 3 inch rise in lake levels.

City officials are filling and restocking sandbags at multiple sandbag locations throughout the city, says Crawley.

She also asks that city residents assist in removing leaves from storm sewer street drains and gutters to prevent clogging and street flooding.

City street lane closures and all other storm related updates will be posted in the Madison city website:

cityof madison.com/flooding .

UPDATE (WKOW) — A rainy forecast brings a renewed threat of flooding in Madison, as Dane County leaders try to figure out how to deal with high water in the future.

Water hasn’t come out past the storm drains just yet, but as a precaution, sandbags are still piled high at homes and businesses.

While residents and visitors to the area are tired of seeing them, they’re glad they have them.

“I’ve lived here for 20 years and it’s never been a fear of mine, living on the isthmus,” Tobi Silgman, a Mifflin Street resident, said. “Now it is, a little bit.”

It’s been nearly a month since the sandbags went up and for many there’s no telling how long they’ll stay up.

“We’re keeping them out for as long as the city advises us to,” Bob Hemaur, with the Cork n’ Bottle on East Johnson Street, said.

Along East Johnson and Mifflin streets, with a rainy weekend coming up, concerns are mounting.

Over the weekend, what may look like a safe place to park could change in a matter of hours.

While it may have just looked like puddles Thursday, area business owners expect that to change.

“We keep an eye out on the storm sewer which is right out front and we can see the water level fluctuating with the rain,” Julie Luther, who works at Spruce Tree Music and Repair, said. “We can still see the water level in there so we know it doesn’t take a whole lot to bring that up at this point.”

She’s seen water seep in the store before.

This time, she’s not too concerned.

Next door at Cork n’ Bottle, they’re excited for the neighborhood to get back to normal, but hope this sparks new conversations.

“Extreme rain events and water management is going to be increasingly important as we move forward,” Hemauer said. “I’ve been really pleased with the community effort, the city input and the neighborhood, all the leadership that’s being shown to find a holistic solutions to what is going to be the new normal.”

Residents along East Mifflin have some worst case scenarios but remain positive.

“Always worried about the poor Tenney Dam breaking,” Silgman said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen but if it did that would be pretty scary.”

With more rain and water on the way, city staff members are asking people to make sure your sandbags are still in good shape.

They also ask people not park their cars in areas of pooling water.

MADISON (WKOW) — Rising floodwater from recent rains is beginning to creep back on to Madison streets downtown, and there is the possibility of new lane closures.

Both Lake Mendota and Monona rose about 5 inches following the rain Sunday and Monday, according to Katie Crawley from Madison Mayor Paul Soglin’s office.

Lake Mendota is currently one foot below the 100-year elevation and six inches below the storm high.

Lake Monona sits one inch over the 100-year flood elevation which is nine inches below the Aug.-Sept. storm high, says Crawley.

Both lakes have peaked for now, but more rain is predicted tonight through the middle of next week.

A further rise in lake levels will occur if the area receives the amounts of rain predicted but Madison city staff will continue to monitor the weather and the lake levels.

Like September, water is re-appearing on E. Mifflin St. west of Livingston St and just starting to appear on E. Johnson St. at the Yahara River on Madison’s near-east side.

Madison motorists are again facing possible lane or road closures, according to Crawley.

City staff are reminding residents to check their sandbags, make sure they are in proper locations to protect property if water continues to rise.

The city is also asking that residents not park vehicles in low-lying areas.

If you see water pooling and there is rain in the forecast, avoid that area for parking, says Crawley.