Rivers falling, flood warnings continue

Water levels on area rivers continued to slowly fall during the past week.

Even as river levels were falling, the National Weather Service office in Paducah reported that flood warnings continued until further notice for some locations on the Mississippi and Big Muddy rivers in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri.

Flooding has been occurring on the region’s rivers for many weeks.

The weather service’s forecast was calling for the possibility of thunderstorms on Wednesday, May 15. More rain is possible this coming Saturday through Monday.

The weather service office posted the following flood updates on its website:

Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau

A flood warning remains in effect until further notice.

At 8:30 p.m. Monday, May 13, the river’s stage was at 42.7 feet. Flood stage is 32.0 feet.

The weather service reported that major flooding was occurring.

At Cape Girardeau, the river was forecast to fall into moderate flood stage on Wednesday, May 15. 

Mississippi River at Thebes

A flood warning remains in effect until Thursday, May 23.

At 8:30 p.m. Monday, the river’s stage was 40.9 feet. Flood stage is 33.0 feet.

Moderate flooding was occurring. Moderate flooding was in the forecast.

The forecast also was calling for the river to continue to fall.

Big Muddy River near Murphysboro

A flood warning remains in effect until further notice.

At 8:30 p.m. Monday, the river’s stage was 28.6 feet. Flood stage is 22.0 feet.

Moderate flooding is occurring. Moderate flooding is in the forecast.

The forecast also called for the river to continue to fall.