Major flooding continues on Mississippi River

Flooding continued for another week on rivers in Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri.

The National Weather Service office at Cape Girardeau reported that as of Monday night, May 27, major flooding was occurring along the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau.

Moderate flooding was occurring along the Mississippi River at Thebes.

The weather service reported that water levels were continuing to rise slowly and major flooding was expected to develop at Thebes on Wednesday, May 29.

A crest of 45 feet on the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau now is forecast on June 4.

A crest of 43 feet on the Mississippi River at Thebes also is forecast on June 4.

“Some variations to the  forecast will be possible over the next 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how much rain falls over the Mississippi River basin,” the weather service office reported on its website.

The weather service shared the following updates about flooding on the Mississippi River, which borders Union County:

Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau: At 8 p.m. Monday, May 27, the river’s stage was 43.2 feet. Flood stage is 32.0 feet.

Mississippi River at Thebes: At 8 p.m. Monday, the river’s stage was 41.0 feet. Flood stage is 33.0 feet.

The weather service reported that moderate flooding also continues along the Big Muddy River near Murphysboro. Union County also is bordered by the Big Muddy River.

At 7 p.m. Monday, the river’s stage was 28.5 feet. Flood stage is 22.0 feet.

The forecast was calling for the river to continue rising to near 28.7 feet by Tuesday afternoon, May 28, and then begin falling.

The ongoing flood conditions have left many roads under water in the river bottomlands of western Union County. Water also is standing in many fields in the bottoms.