A forecast update provided today by our colleagues from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) is here.  The latest crest at New Orleans (Carrollton Gage) occurred on March 22, 2022 with a reading of at 13.82 feet recorded at 2100 hours, this crest is the highest Carrollton Gage reading of the year (2022). The latest reading of the Carrollton Gage was 13.18 feet recorded at 1700 hours today.  The forecast predicts the stages will remain steady the next few days before beginning a slow fall to 11.0 feet on April 22, 2022.  

The following details are reproduced from the attached report:

“ The heavy rain early this week has kept river levels on the lower Mississippi River elevated from Natchez, MS to New Orleans, LA.  

On the lower Mississippi River, minor flooding should end at Baton Rouge, LA by the middle of next week.  Minor flooding will continue for another one to two weeks from Natchez, MS downstream to Red River Landing, LA. 

Rainfall from this week is causing minor rises on the lower Ohio River and Mississippi River above Cairo, IL.  The rises should peak early next week and crests are expected to be well below flood stage.  This rise will only slow recessions on the lower Mississippi River below Arkansas City, AR. 

Minor to isolated moderate flooding continues over smaller tributaries in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.  Heavy rain for the middle of next week may cause renewed flooding for the same smaller tributaries. 

The 16 day future rainfall guidance is showing a couple of rises on the lower Ohio River through the middle of April.  The guidance is now showing cresting conditions on the lower Ohio River being below flood levels.  The rises would prolong flooding at Red River Landing, LA and extend elevated levels on the lower Mississippi River through late April.