Flooding Expected Along Much of the Mississippi River

Water levels are set to rise even further across the lower Mississippi River in the weeks ahead, thanks to the abundance of rain that has already fallen this month. Here is what you need to know about the threat of river flooding in this region.

Waters to Continue to Rise Up and Down the Mississippi River

Forecasters are warning that water levels on the lower portions of the Mississippi River will inch up in the coming days, leading to flooding that will linger for weeks. The chance of flooding will be in the zone from the point of the Ohio River confluence and down into where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

The slow-moving flooding threat is just now getting started. The risks are forecast to persist through the end of April. While the lower portion of the Mississippi did not see the heavy rainfall that parts of the Ohio and Tennessee valleys experienced earlier in the month, the rainfall associated with these storms is now making its way down the tributaries of the Mississippi.

It is not unusual for the water to take this long to travel down the tributaries and eventually to the point in which the Ohio River meets with the mighty Mississippi. This is why meteorologists refer to river flooding as a slow-moving natural disaster. Some flood cycles can last for up to a month after the rain begins falling.

The water levels are expected to rise above the banks of these waterways, spilling out into the low-lying areas surrounding the rivers. Here, the water can remain for weeks due to the flat terrain of this part of the country. The threat is particularly worrisome for agricultural interests along the Mississippi River basin as it could take several days for the water to drain.

The latest models indicate that the lower section of the Ohio River will crest by this weekend, slowly beginning to recede over the next few weeks. However, as the waters recede in the middle portions of the Mississippi River basin, the levels will climb even higher in areas farther downstream. The increase in water levels will challenge the stability of levees in this region, potentially forcing the closure of some bridges and roads in the region.

Before & After Photos