Tammy Kitzmiller, left, and Christy Rhem express their happiness during a news conference on Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pa., after hearing the verdict from U.S. District Judge John E. Jones that prevents the Dover School District from teaching “intelligent design” in biology class.

The warm, windy, wet weather the South Coast has been experiencing over the last couple days will continue and likely create some localized flooding, particularly in the Coquille Valley and Illinois Valley areas.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch - meaning there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts - for Western Siskiyou County, the Southern Oregon Coast including Curry, Coos and Josephine counties through Thursday.

“Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the watch said, citing continued heavy rainfall and melting snow levels in southern Oregon and northern California. As of Monday evening, the weather service did not expect major rivers to reach flood stage.

The strong low pressure system circulating over the northeast Pacific Ocean will generate more rain today as a cold front moves east across the area. The same storm already produced 1.98 inches of rain over the area on Monday, according to NWS climate data.

The Weather Service is keeping a close watch on the Illinois River at Powers. It was nearing a level late Monday that often precedes downstream flood problems on the Coquille River near Myrtle Point. Expected rainfall through early today was likely to raise the Coquille to the top of its banks, but not flooding. Additional rain over the next couple days could change those forecasts.

The following readings were observed at South Coast rivers at 3 p.m. Monday:

n South Fork Coquille at Myrtle Point: 16 feet at 2,596 cubic feet per second; flood stage: 38 feet; crest forecasted to be at 36.5 feet at 4 a.m. today.

n North Fork Coquille near Myrtle Point: 7.9 feet at 678.7 cubic feet per second; flood stage: 35 feet; crest forecasted to be at 31.3 feet at 10 a.m. today.

n Coquille River at Coquille: 9.9 feet at 3,490 cubic feet per second; flood stage: 21 feet; crest forecasted to be at 17.2 feet at 4 p.m. today.

The storm also will continue to bring high, gusty winds to the South Coast today, as well as large ocean swells greater than 20 feet to shoreline areas today and Wednesday. Visitors to the coast should stay back from jetties and exposed rocks during high surf conditions, the weather service warned, since large waves can suddenly sweep across previously dry areas.