The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center (LMRFC) released this update (today) to document the low river stage conditions. The LMRFC provided the following text along with the attachment for this update that details low water stage predictions from Cairo (IL) to Baton Rouge (LA). 

“No changes from last week.

Forecast river levels are still expected to approach 2022 levels in late September to early October.

The long range forecasts continue to show little rainfall over the 7day and 16 day period.

The 16 day future rainfall model continues to show falls through September into early October. The forecast for Cairo, IL shows river levels in the 5.0ft range by the end of the month.

The lower Ohio River will continue to have stage fluctuations due to lock/dam operations and power generation.” (Emphasis supplied)

The Carrolton Gage (New Orleans) reading at 1100 hours today was 3.07 feet with a 24-hour change of – 0.33 feet. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service Extended Streamflow Prediction (28-Day) for the Carrollton Gage issued today forecasts stages will continue a slow fall to 2.1 feet by September 16 and to then begin a slow rise to 2.9 feet on September 23 and remain steady a few days before beginning a slow fall to 2.5 feet on October 9 (2023). 

*The forecasts keep the stage between 2.1 feet and 2.9 feet from September 11 through October 9 (2023). 
Long-range forecasts only include precipitation expected to fall in the next 48-hours.

The highest crest in 2023 recorded on the Carrollton Gage was recorded April 13 at 14.10 feet and the lowest stage of the year was recorded at 1.47 feet on July 5, 2023.