Rivers are rising throughout Missouri, and with more rainfall in the forecast, moderate flooding is expected at several locations.
The Missouri River around the Jefferson City area generally was from 3-5.5 feet above flood stage.
The National Weather Service predicted it would drop only a little in the coming days, remaining above flood stage at least through Saturday.
Flood stage at Jefferson City is 23 feet, and the Missouri stood at 26.5 feet at 5 p.m. Monday. It's predicted to crest today at 27.2 feet, then fall to about 25.8 feet by Saturday morning.
Although the flood stage is 23 feet, the levee protects North Jefferson City until the river level reaches just over 30 feet.
In central Missouri, some sections along the Katy Trail, a cross-state hiking and biking trail, are flooding. A couple of sections of Missouri 94 are also threatened.
Downstream, the flood stage at Chamois is 17 feet, and the river was estimated to be at 22.5 feet Monday evening. It's expected to crest at 22.9 feet today, then fall slowly to about 22 feet Saturday morning.
And at Hermann, where flood stage is 21 feet, the Missouri River was 26.3 feet Monday evening, expected to crest at 27 feet today, then falling to about 24.2 feet by Saturday morning.
However, both the Osage River at St. Thomas and the Gasconade River near Rich Fountain were below flood stage, with no significant increases expected.
The National Weather Service noted its forecasts generally "take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future" - in this case, from Monday evening.
Rainfall amounts greater or less than forecast could change the river level predictions.
Both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers are overflowing due to heavy rain that has settled over the central U.S. over the past several days.
Butch Dye with the National Weather Service in St. Louis said Monday that more rain is in the forecast for much of southwestern and eastern Missouri through the week. Up to 7 inches of rain could fall by the weekend, potentially making flooding worse.
Along with the Missouri, the Mississippi River is expected to reach 7 feet above flood stage south of St. Louis, but no significant problems are expected.
Flooding doesn't have the impact that it once did in the Midwest, thanks to buyout programs since the 1993 flood. The government has spent millions of dollars purchasing land in the floodplains and turning it into green space, soccer fields and other non-developed land.
In Jefferson County, south of St. Louis, the Meramec River is expected to rise to 7 feet above flood stage by the weekend at Arnold. Still, Jefferson County emergency coordinator Warren Robinson said few homes will be endangered.
A few roads are closed and some agricultural land is under water, he said.
The Mississippi River is expected to peak a couple of feet above flood stage from Canton to St. Louis, but the rise south of St. Louis is higher.
The area near Ste. Genevieve could see floodwaters more than 7 feet above flood stage by Sunday, potentially threatening U.S. 61.
Waters are also expected to reach 6½ feet above flood stage by June 22 in Cape Girardeau.