Due to heavy rainfall and high river levels, both pumping stations in Cape Girardeau are in operation. Based on the current forecast it is possible stations may be closed on Saturday.
Currently, the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is at 34 feet and falling.
While the Mississippi River has crested at Cape Girardeau, communities south of the confluence with the Ohio River can expect to see a rising river that will surpass flood stages.
New Madrid has already surpassed its flood stage of 34 feet, and is expected to crest at 38 feet on Wednesday afternoon.
The Ohio River is still rising, and nearly the entire area between Evansville, Indiana and Cairo, Illinois is above flood stage.
Cairo is expected to crest today at 49.8 feet, which is almost ten feet above flood stage, according to Dave Purdy with the National Weather Service.
“At Cairo it’s not really too unusual. It can be serious if some of the agricultural areas are affected. There are a lot of them around there that get flooded out this time of year. It usually comes a little later than this, though,” Purdy said.
Purdy says that we can expect to see some degree of flooding over the next month or so, depending on the level of rainfall.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Mississippi River crests, Ohio River rises
Jacob McCleland, KRCU
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