February 24, 2020
The National Weather Service (NWS) has updated the Mississippi River forecast and has slightly adjusted it up a few tenths (0.2’ to 0.3’) since the bump up on February 21st.
The Backwater forecast remains the same since the revision on February 20th.
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates are open.
The Yazoo Backwater is currently at 95.2’ which has 444,000 total acres underwater in the MS South Delta including 164,000 acres of cropland..
The Yazoo Backwater is predicted to crest between 95.2’ and 95.5’. At 95.5’ there will be 454,000 total acres flooded including 171,000 acres of cropland.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Flood Current Predicted
Gage Stage Stage Crest & Date
Cairo (Ohio Rv) 40’ 51.2’ Crested at 51.6’ on 2/22/20
Memphis 34’ 35.3’ Cresting near 35.3’
Helena 44’ 43.4’ 43.6’ on 2/25/20
Arkansas City 37’ 39.0’ 39.2’ on 2/26/20
Greenville 48’ 50.7’ 51.0’ on 2/26/20
Vicksburg 43’ 47.1’ 47.5’ on 2/27/20
Natchez 48’ 54.3’ 55.0’ on 2/28/20
RIVER FORECAST NEXT 28 DAYS
The NWS has unofficially looked at the 16-day rainfall forecast and it is matching up with the above official forecast.
RIVER ROADS IMPACTED
Lower Lake Ferguson Road in Greenville is flooded – it goes under at Greenville Gage 44’.
Upper Lake Ferguson Road in Greenville is flooded – it goes under at Greenville Gage 50’.
Hwy 465 near Eagle Lake on the unprotected side of the levee is flooded – it goes underwater at Vicksburg Gage 46.5’. MDOT closed this roadway Sunday February 23, 2020.
BACKWATER
The Backwater (landside) is at 95.24’ and the riverside is at 95.18’.
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates are open. They have been open since February 2nd.
The Yazoo Backwater is currently at 95.2’ which has 444,000 total acres underwater in the MS South Delta including 164,000 acres of cropland..
The Yazoo Backwater is predicted to crest between 95.2’ and 95.5’. At 95.5’ there will be 454,000 total acres flooded including 171,000 acres of cropland.
BACKWATER ROADS IMPACTED
The Backwater is currently at 95.2’.
Blanton Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 92’.
Spanish Fort Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 92.5’.
Goose Lake Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 93.4’.
Low Water Bridge Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 93.7’.
Hwy 465 near Eagle Lake on the protected side of the levee from the YBW Levee to the Eagle Lake Gin is flooded – it goes underwater at Backwater 95’. MDOT closed this roadway Sunday February 23, 2020.
ACCESS TO EAGLE LAKE
MDOT closed Hwy 465 at Eagle Lake on both sides of the Yazoo Backwater Levee from Hwy 61 to the Eagle Lake Gin on Sunday February 23, 2020.
Eagle Lake Residents in light vehicles (coming from Vicksburg)
Eagle Lake residents in light vehicles are allowed to travel either:
(1) the Yazoo Backwater Levee from Hwy 61 and then the Brunswick Extension Levee through Tara Wildlife back to Eagle Lake (~24 miles of limestone gravel); or
(2) travel up Hwy 61 north to Onward, then west on Hwy 1, then south on Hwy 465 on top of the Mainline MS River Levee back to Eagle Lake (~40 miles of asphalt pavement).
Heavy Trucks & Equipment over 8 Tons (coming from Vicksburg)
Heavy trucks and equipment must take Hwy 61 north up to Onward, MS, then west on Hwy 1, then south on Hwy 465 along the top of the Mainline MS River Levee to access Eagle Lake.
CORPS INUNDATION MAP
The Vicksburg District Corps of Engineers has developed inundation products on the Pearl River to the Gulf, the Yazoo Backwater Area, and the Mississippi River. These inundation products have been updated on the USACE Map Viewer to reflect the latest forecasts. Click on the link below to access these inundation products:
YAZOO BACKWATER PUMPS
If we had the Yazoo Backwater Pumps in place – instead of cresting at 93.3’ back on February 2nd – the Pumps would have lowered the crest by 5.3’ down to 88’.
Instead of 380,000 acres flooded – the Pumps would have prevented 154,000 acres from flooding lowering the total land flooded to 226,000 acres.
Attached you will find a 10-day MS River Forecast.
Peter Nimrod
Chief Engineer
MS Levee Board
(662)334-4813