A forecast update provided by our colleagues from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) is here. 

Highlights from today’s update specific to the areas along the Mississippi River Ship Channel are reproduced below (listed in bold):

Minor flooding is occurring on the lower Mississippi River at Red River Landing, LA.  It should crest early next week and should fall below flood stage by next weekend.  No other locations on the lower Mississippi River are expected to reach flood stage.  

Rises will continue on the lower Mississippi River through the middle of next week.  

Significant falls will continue on the lower Ohio River over the next several weeks.  Significant falls are forecast on the lower Mississippi below Red River Landing, LA by late next week and should continue through early June. 

The 16 day future rainfall guidance shows minor rises on the lower Ohio River for week 2 but this would only slow down the falls on the lower Mississippi River by the end of the month.  At this time, the guidance continues to show no flooding for the lower Ohio or lower Mississippi Rivers during the next month.

The highest stage of 2021 to date on the Carrollton Gauge at New Orleans was recorded as a crest of 15.44 feet at 1700 hours on April 16, 2021. 

The Carrollton Gauge stage at 1300 hours today was 11.80 feet with a 24-hour change of + 0.06 feet. 

Long range forecasts for the Carrollton Gauge indicate a continuing rise to 12.2 feet on May 19, 2021 and then to begin a slow fall to 9.0 feet on June 11, 2021.

Please review the linked attachment for complete details as distributed by NOAA’s Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.