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April 30, 2001 — While flooding will persist and river levels are expected to remain high on the Mississippi River and several tributaries, and the Red River of the North, NOAA's National Weather Service said Monday flood crests had mostly passed the communities most at risk in recent weeks. (Click NOAA photo for larger view of flooded road and railroad tracks along Mississippi River northeast of Desoto, Wis. Click here for more photos. Please credit "NOAA." Read about the NOAA aircraft used for aerial flood survey.)

"Because the rivers will stay high for weeks yet, local communities will be watching any temporary dikes and levees for signs of weakness," National Weather Service Central Region Assistant Chief of Hydrologic Services Noreen Schwein said. "The Mississippi River crest is nearing St. Louis, and a wider, deeper channel, and the Red River of the North is falling and will continue to do so."

Schwein added: "Dry days with warm temperatures have gone a long way to help alleviate any additional flood potential in the central and north-central United States. Even the rains forecast for the northern reaches of the Mississippi drainage basin shouldn't have any negative impact. They'll keep the river high, but won't cause any new flooding."

The Mississippi was expected to crest at Grafton, Ill., early Monday afternoon, near 22.7 feet. With flood stage at Grafton measuring 18 feet, the river was at 22.5 feet Sunday evening. The Mississippi is expected to reach a crest of around 21.8 feet Tuesday morning at Alton, Ill., where flood stage is 21 feet.

Forecasters expect the crest to take until Thursday morning to travel the approximate 25 miles to St. Louis. Expected to crest at 26.1 feet, the Mississippi will remain below flood stage (30 feet) through St. Louis.

Minor flooding is expected Thursday at Chester, Ill., where the Mississippi is forecast to crest at about 27.7 feet. Flood stage at Chester is 27 feet.

The Mississippi is expected to crest near 32.5 feet Friday morning at Cape Girardeau, Mo., (six inches over flood state) and to crest below flood stage at 31.5 feet (flood stage 33 feet) Friday evening at Thebes, Ill.

"This is still a dangerous situation," Schwein said. "Any kind of flooding can present a danger to life and health. People have been very good at being careful around flood waters, and I want to emphasize that this is not the time to become complacent. There are many rivers above flood stage in the central United States, and people need to be cautious around all of them."

Central U.S. states and their flooding rivers include:

Iowa: Little Sioux, Big Sioux, West Fork Des Moines, Des Moines, and East Fork Des Moines;

Illinois: the Illinois River;

Minnesota: the Minnesota, St. Croix, South Fork Crow, Crow, Redwood and West Fork Des Moines;

Missouri: the Meramec River, the Mississippi River;

Nebraska: the Missouri River at Brownsville;

North Dakota: the James, Souris, Wintering, Buffalo and Wild Rice Rivers; Willow Creek;

South Dakota: the James, Big Sioux and Vermillion Rivers.

Relevant Web Sites
See NOAA aerial photos of flooded areas. Please credit "NOAA."

Updated information on the flood and weather forecasts for the affected areas may be found on the following NOAA Web sites for the respective weather service forecast offices.

Regional Weather Forecasts
Click on the appropriate map location.

The Shrike Commander: NOAA's World Class Snow Survey Platform

Davenport, Iowa, and vicinity

Minneapolis, Minn.

St. Louis, Missouri

NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region, with links to 38 forecast offices

NOAA's Hydrologic Information Center

River Conditions from NOAA's Hydrologic Information Center — includes national graphic

NOAA's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services

NOAA's Flooding Page

NOAA's River Forecast Centers

NOAA Flood Satellite Images

Media Contacts:
Patrick Slattery, NOAA's National Weather Service Central Region, (816) 426-7621, ext. 621 or John Leslie, NOAA's National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622