The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) released this update on river stage conditions (today). 

 

“The rain event ended over the weekend with 2 to 5 inches of rainfall occurring from Arkansas and south Missouri extending northeast into the Ohio Valley.  

  

Minor flooding is forecast for the lower Ohio River from Olmsted Lock and Dam, IL to Cairo, IL.  Cairo, IL is forecast to crest at 44.5ft on March 31st. This crest would be similar to the crest that occurred a couple of weeks ago.

 

On the lower Mississippi River, rises have reached Greenville, MS and most locations should see rises by this weekend.

 

Renewed crests on the lower Mississippi River should occur for the first and second week of April.  Minor flooding is expected from Caruthersville, MO to Osceola, AR and from Natchez, MS downstream to Baton Rouge, LA.

 

The rises on the lower Mississippi River should be near or slightly higher than crests from one to two weeks ago.

 

The 16 day future rainfall guidance is similar to the official forecast with Cairo, IL cresting at 44.5ft on March 31st.  The guidance shows minor flooding ending on the lower Ohio River for the first week of April and then another rise below flood levels occurring for the second week of April.” (Emphasis applied)