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 reading at the Carrollton Gage (New Orleans) at 1000 hours today was 11.12 feet with a change over the last 24-hours of – 0.02 feet. The highest crest in 2022 to date on the Carrollton Gage was 13.82 feet which occurred on March 22 at 2100 hours.
The following details are reproduced from the attached report:
“Significant rises on the middle Mississippi River above the confluence with the Ohio River have already peaked earlier this week. Minor flooding continues at Cape Girardeau, MO and Thebes, IL but both locations should fall below flood levels by the end of the week.
Rises are still occurring on the lower Ohio River and Cairo, IL is still forecast to crest slightly above flood stage at 40.5ft for Friday.
On the lower Mississippi River, rises are occurring from New Madrid, MO to Natchez, MS and the remainder of the lower Mississippi should see rises by this weekend.
Minor flooding is forecast at Natchez, MS by next weekend and Red River Landing, LA will rise above flood levels this weekend and crest on May 23rd near 51.0ft.
Crest levels on the lower Mississippi River are expected to be near or slightly higher than what occurred at the end of April and beginning of May.
The 16 day future rainfall guidance doesn’t show much additional rainfall so guidance levels are similar to the official forecasts for the lower Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers.”
