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 11.71 feet recorded at 1300 hours today.  The forecast predicts the stages will continue a rise over the next five-days with a crest of 12.5 feet expected before beginning a steady fall. The highest reading in 2022 to date at the New Orleans (Carrollton Gage) occurred on March 22 with a reading of at 13.82 feetrecorded at 2100 hours. 

The following details are reproduced from the report: 

“ The lower Ohio River crested yesterday and should fall over the next week. 

On the lower Mississippi River, cresting conditions are approaching Osceola, AR and the remaining downstream locations should crest over the next 1 to 2 weeks.  

Red River Landing, LA is above flood stage now and should rise a few more feet before cresting next Wednesday at 51.0ft.  This crest is a couple of feet lower than the crest that occurred in late March.   Natchez, MS is forecast to go above flood stage this weekend and crest next Tuesday at 49.0ft. 

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.  

Over the next week, two to four inches of rainfall is forecast over the lower Missouri and middle Mississippi Valleys.  This will cause rises on the Mississippi River above the junction with the Ohio River and slow recessions on the lower Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers for late next week.

The 16 day future rainfall guidance shows slower recessions on the lower Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers.  The guidance shows minor flooding ending at Red River Landing, LA for the first week of May.”