ST. LOUIS — After numerous waves of rain over the past week, rivers, creeks and streams are running high. Numerous flood warnings have been issued.
The latest round of rain from Wednesday evening into Thursday pushed some rainfall totals over three inches. Melting snow well to our north and northwest was already boosting levels in the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers ahead of the drenching rain. The combination of rain and snow melt will push a few locations into moderate flooding.
Along the Missouri River, the river is forecast to crest Friday evening a little over six feet above flood stage. At Hermann, Mo., the river is forecast to crest around eight feet above flood stage.
From moderate to now minor flooding is occurring along the Cuivre River at Old Monroe. The river cresting Saturday at Old Monroe and remain high into next week due to backwater from the Mississippi River.
At Chester, IL along the Mississippi River, a moderate flood crest of nine feet above flood stage is expected early Monday morning. The remainder of the Mississippi River locations are expected to crest with minor flooding occurring.
MORE INFORMATION: Click here for the latest regional river forecasts
River forecasts are based on observed rainfall and forecast rainfall over the next 48 hours. As the National Weather Service always reminds us, "Turn around, don't drown" when encountering flooding roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Here are a few of the river flood warnings as of Thursday afternoon:
FLOOD WARNINGS:
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT CHESTER IL: MODERATE flooding still in the forecast cresting at 35.9' early Monday morning. At 36', Chester water works pumphouse is threatened by flood waters. Highway 61 is closed at the bend at St. Mary's and a detour is set up through town. Near this height, St. Genevieve County levee #2 is overtopped. This levee protects 7000 acres.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT WINFIELD: Flood stage is 26', a crest of 28' is expected early Sunday morning. Minor flooding is forecast. Falling below flood stage by Tuesday morning. At 28.3' Lakeview drive becomes impassible and Kampville road begins flooding in northern St. Charles County. It will fall below flood stage Tuesday morning.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT ST. LOUIS: Flood stage is 30', a crest of 33.5' is expected Sunday morning. Minor flooding is forecast. Falling below flood stage early Sunday morning. At 31.9', the entrance to the parking garage just north of Eads Bridge begins flooding.
MISSISSIPPI RIVE AT GRAFTON: Flood stage is 20', the river is expected to cresting Sunday evening to 22.9'. Falling below flood stage Thursday morning. At 22.5', the East end of Main Street in Portage des Sioux begins flooding.
MISSOURI RIVER AT HERMANN: Flood stage is 21', a crest of 27.8' is expected early Friday... so now and fall below flood stage Sunday. Moderate flooding is forecast. At 29.2', Missouri Route 94 is closed between Treloar and Pickney near this height.
MISSOURI RIVER AT WASHINGTON: Flood stage is 20', a crest of 26.2' is expected early Friday afternoon. At 26', agricultural land on the left bank begins to flood. St. Albans partners levee will overtop near this height.
CUIVRE RIVER AT OLD MONROE: Minor flooding is forecast as the river falls below flood stage 24' after midnight Saturday into early Sunday
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