(Danville, Va.) – The National Weather Service expects the Dan River to rise to 22.4 feet later this afternoon. That’s below major flood stage, which is 25.5 feet.

Blacksburg meteorologist Robert Stonefield reported a level of 21.9 feet at 3 a.m. and said the river was continuing to rise.

But the weather service now says the Dan will not reach the 28-foot level that had been predicted earlier and will remain below major flood stage, which is 25.5 feet.

Stonefield says Florence stayed farther south longer and that kept much of the rain away from Danville. He said the rain was also concentrated along the eastern side of North Carolina and much of the precipitation was kept out of Southside because of a cooler high pressure system.

20 feet is still moderate flood stage. The Dan River is expected to stay above that level through tomorrow, falling below flood stage sometime Wednesday night.