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 reading of the Carrollton Gage was 11.65 feet recorded at 1100 hours today.  The forecast predicts the stages will continue a slow steady fall over the next five-days. The highest reading in 2022 year to date at the New Orleans (Carrollton Gage) occurred on March 22, 2022 with a reading of at 13.82 feet recorded at 2100 hours. 

The following details are reproduced from the report:

 “During the next 24 hours, one to two inches of rainfall is forecast over the lower Mississippi Valley extending north into the lower Ohio Valley.  This will cause three to four foot rises on the lower Ohio River and crests below flood levels are forecast for early next week.

On the lower Mississippi River, Red River Landing, LA should fall below flood stage later today and remain below flood stage through early next week.  Rises from upstream will cause Red River Landing, LA to go back above flood levels for the middle of next week and continue to rise one to two feet through late April.

The remainder of the lower Mississippi River will see rises over the next couple of weeks but crests are forecast to remain below flood levels.

The heavy rainfall today may cause renewed flooding for smaller tributaries in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The 16 day future rainfall guidance shows slightly higher crest levels than the official forecast.  The crests remain below flood levels on the lower Ohio River.  The lower Mississippi River at Natchez, MS may briefly go back above flood levels for late April and Red River Landing, LA would remain above flood levels through early May.”