Missouri River will top flood stage this weekend

Current stages and forecasts for Mid-Missouri rivers and streams can be found on the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service pages. To access the latest information for the above locations and more, use the links below.
Current stages and forecasts for Mid-Missouri rivers and streams can be found on the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service pages. To access the latest information for the above locations and more, use the links below.

The forecast levels for the Missouri River in Jefferson City show the river will be going over the flood stage by this weekend.

And forecasters with the National Weather Service in St. Louis say it could be several days before the river goes back below flood stage.

Meteorologist Ben Miller said the cause for the rise is large volume of rain falling from Montana and down to South Dakota, where dams along the Missouri are located.

"They've had anywhere from five to 10 inches of rain in these areas," he said. "That's a 500 to 600 percent increase above normal rainfall. They are normally pretty dry year round. The reservoirs at the dams are already full from snow melt. Most reservoirs are within five feet of record stages so they don't have any extra capacity."

Online:

Central & Eastern Missouri river & lake stages (St. Louis)

West-Central & Northwest Missouri river & lake stages (Kansas City)