GREENVILLE IS CRESTING NEAR 56.9’
BACKWATER predicted to crest between 97’ to 98’
WOLF LAKE predicted to reach 101’
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Flood Current Predicted
Gage Stage Stage Crest & Date
Cairo (Ohio Rv) 40’ 53.9’ Crested at 56.5’ on 3/1/19
Memphis 34’ 40.7’ Crested at 41.4’ on 3/5/19
Helena 44’ 49.3’ Crested at 49.6’ on 3/6/19
Arkansas City 37’ 44.7’ Cresting near 44.7’
Greenville 48’ 56.9’ Cresting near 56.9’
Vicksburg 43’ 51.2’ 51.5’ on 3/10/19
Natchez 48’ 57.5’ 58.0’ on 3/11/19
RIVER WILL FALL AND THEN COULD RISE RIGHT BACK UP
The NWS has looked at the 16-day rainfall forecast and it looks like the River will fall 5’ in the next 2 weeks, but then it could rebound right back up 5’ in the next 3 to 4 weeks to these same crest levels we are currently experiencing.
BACKWATER
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates were closed February 15th. The Backwater (landside) is at 95.55’ and the riverside is at 99.67’. With the water currently on the ground and the rainfall predicted over the next 7-days the Backwater looks like it will get to around 97’ to 98’.
The Backwater has overtopped several roads: Blanton Road (92’), Spanish Fort Road (92.5’), Goose Lake Road (93.4’), Low-water Bridge Road (93.7’) and Hwy 465 (between the YBW Levee and Eagle Lake Gin).
The Backwater is close to overtopping Hwy 16 between Rolling & Holly Bluff; and close to overtopping the Sartatia Road east of Holly Bluff.
At 97’ there will be over 500,000 acres flooded in the South Delta.
At 98’ there will be over 540,000 acres flooded in the South Delta.
This will be the worst Backwater Flood since 1973.
WOLF LAKE
Wolf Lake is currently at 100.50’ and predicted to crest around 101’.
MDOT is closing Hwy 149 near Erickson Road east of the Will Whittington East Guide Levee today at 5:30pm.
The Satartia Road east of the Will Whittington East Guide Levee is closed.
EAGLE LAKE RESIDENTS
MDOT closed Hwy 465 on the riverside of the levee on February 23rd. MDOT closed HWY 465 on the protected side of the levee between the Yazoo Backwater Levee and the Eagle Lake Gin on March 4th. The Mississippi Levee Board closed the YBW Levee at Hwy 61 on March 4th due to the thousands of deer that are trapped on the Brunswick Extension Levee. Eagle Lake residents can travel up Hwy 61 to Onward, MS, then take Hwy 1 North, and then take Hwy 465 South to get back and forth to Eagle Lake. The Mississippi Levee Board realizes that this is a terrible inconvenience for the Eagle Lake residents – but we are looking out for the safety of the public. This is a historic backwater flood – one we haven’t seen since 1973.
LEVEE INPECTIONS & PATROLS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspectors are inspecting the levee and will continue to inspect throughout the duration of the highwater event. No major issues have been found. The Mississippi Levee Board staff & crew stand ready to perform necessary flood fighting work. At this forecast crest we do not anticipate any major issues on the protected side of the levee.