Raymond and Clara Bell stand on their back doorstep Thursday on Morningside Drive in Valdosta as they watch their back yard change from a grassy yard to a shallow pond in the rain.

VALDOSTA — As rain continues to fall, water levels in Lowndes County continue to rise. Two bridges, one on Skipper Bridge Road at the Withlacoochee River and one on Shiloh Road at Frank’s Creek, remain closed. In addition, as of Thursday evening, the following roads were partially or completely closed :

• Wells Road

• Little River Road

• Porter Road — east of the railroad tracks

• Old Lake Park Road from Schoolhouse Pond Road to Zipperer Road

• Hickory Grove Road — southeast from Bradford Road to Old Lake Park Road

• Jerry Lane

• Vann Road — section around the 5200 block

Lowndes County crews continued monitoring areas of concern, including Clyattville-Nankin Road, Johnson Road, Vann Road, Hickory Grove Road, Ezelle Road, Martin Lane, Dinky Run, Parker Road, Simpson Road, Beatty Road, Quarterman Road and Stafford Wright Road, said Paige Dukes, Lowndes County public information officer.

Also, the City of Valdosta has closed Gornto Road at the Sugar Creek bridge. After monitoring the impact of the rising water in the river, City Engineer Von Shipman said waters had risen to a point that deciding to close the road was in the best interest of citizens’ safety, according to a press release from the city.

Signs have been posted on Gornto Road at the Jerry Jones Road intersection and also at the Baytree Road intersection.

Concerned citizens made numerous phone calls to the county regarding the rising waters, asking when the rivers are going to crest, Dukes said.

According to information provided by the National Weather Service, river waters above Lowndes County have crested, and that cresting is slowly progressing down stream, Dukes said. Visual observations indicated that the water was still rising

Thursday in parts of Lowndes County.

Lowndes County Emergency Management urged residents not to wait until the last minute to decide to evacuate, Dukes said.

Rising flood waters could block escape routes and pose serious danger.

Emergency officials also warn citizens to remind children of the dangers of playing in flooded ditches, storm drains, roads, bridges, creeks and rivers. Citizens should under no circumstances attempt to cross flooded infrastructure, as hidden hazards may exist, Dukes said.

Rain should move out of the area by midmorning today and then return at some point Sunday night.

Currently, the most severe issue facing county officials and citizens, Dukes said, is the result of some motorists moving barricades or driving around barricades used to close roads and bridges.

Such actions could result in the loss of both life and property. Irresponsible drivers significantly increased the cost of storm response in that additional supplies, equipment, and manpower were expended in an attempt to provide for the safety of everyone, Dukes said.

Residents are encouraged to call 911 to report anyone moving barricades, traffic-control devices or safety signs, Dukes said. Lowndes County continues to work with local law enforcement in an effort to enforce road closures and intends to prosecute violators to the fullest extent allowed by law.

In other areas:

• In Berrien County, U.S. Highway 82/state road 520, mile marker 0.6 Tift/Berrien County line at Hardy Mill Creek was closed, according to the state Department of Transportation.

• Operator Van Dyke with the Georgia State Patrol confirmed that Highway 122, west of Salem Church Road in Lanier County, had been closed Thursday afternoon.