The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) released this update on river stage conditions (today).  

“The lower Mississippi River has crested at all locations and Red River Landing, LA should fall below flood stage by Friday.  

The lower Ohio River has fallen over 10 feet during the past week and steady conditions with minor fluctuations are expected over the next several days. 

Over the next 7 days, heavy rainfall is expected over Arkansas extending northeast into the lower Ohio River.  The heaviest rainfall is forecast over Arkansas but 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected over the lower Ohio River.

Snowmelt flooding continues on the upper Mississippi River.  We’re not expecting to see the snowmelt crests at Cairo, IL until the first and second week of May. 

The 16 day future rainfall guidance shows additional rises for the first and second week of May.  Right now, the renewed crests are well below flood levels.” (Emphasis supplied)

The Carrolton Gage (New Orleans) reading at 1300 hours today was 12.19 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.14 feet. The stages at the Carrollton Gage are predicted to steadily fall to 7.1 feet on May 17 (2023).