Revised forecasts released today have pushed the expected crests even higher on the Mississippi River, where major flooding is expected from Dubuque and southward to at least Burlington.
At Rock Island Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities, the river is now expected to crest in the 21 to 23 foot range during the early part of May. The record crest is 22.7 feet in 2019.
With little or no additional precipitation in the basin over the next few weeks, crests are expected to be near the lower end of the ranges. (see attached crest table) Additional heavy precipitation would likely mean crests near the upper end of the ranges.
The new forecasts, based on spring snowmelt, recent precipitation, and forecast precipitation through the next 24 hours, call for crests to occur mostly in early May.
“Our message this spring has been that the severity of flooding will be determined by the pace of the snowmelt, and any additional heavy precipitation events. Significant precipitation did occur recently in the upper portion of the Mississippi basin, and this has pushed the crest forecast higher,” said Matt Wilson, Senior Service Hydrologist at the NWS in the Quad Cities.
Outlooks for the next 2 weeks are not calling for significant precipitation across the region, but we will continue to monitor closely.
For more information, please contact Senior Service Hydrologist Matt Wilson at matthew.w.wilson@noaa.gov, or Warning Coordination Meteorologist Rich Kinney rich.kinney@noaa.gov, or by calling the unlisted Media line (563-388-0672).
***Courtesy of the National Weather Service***
