A forecast update provided by our colleagues from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center is here. Highlights from today’s update specific to the New Orleans area are reproduced below:
Rises continue on the lower Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers. Minor to isolated moderate flooding continues on the lower Ohio River and minor flooding is either occurring or forecast to occur on the lower Mississippi River. Rises will continue on the lower Mississippi River during the next few weeks.
At the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Cairo, IL is slowly rising and a broad crest is expected over the next 5 to 6 days as the rises from the Ohio River are balanced with falls from the middle Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers. Cairo, IL is forecast to crest at 46.0ft on Thursday, March 13th. Flooding will continue over the next 7 to 10 days on the lower Ohio River.
On the lower Mississippi River, minor flooding is occurring at Caruthersville, MO and minor flooding is forecast over the next several days from New Madrid, MO downstream to Osceola, AR. Red River Landing, LA is forecast to reach minor flooding by the middle of next week.
Cresting conditions will not approach New Orleans, LA until the third week of March.
The 16 day future rainfall guidance does not show higher crests on the lower Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers but it does keep the lower Ohio River elevated and possibly going back above flood stage for the second and third week of March.
The Carrollton Gauge at New Orleans is predicted to crest at 13.0 feet on March 21, 2021.
Please review the attachment for complete details as distributed by NOAA’s Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.
