Mid-Missouri flood conditions mild compared to northern part of state

Lydia Roberto looks out over the Missouri River from Water Street in Jefferson City as she walks her dog, Luna, Monday, March 18, 2019.
Lydia Roberto looks out over the Missouri River from Water Street in Jefferson City as she walks her dog, Luna, Monday, March 18, 2019.

While local officials continue to monitor the Missouri River in Jefferson City, as of Monday afternoon it was believed Mid-Missouri would not see flooding conditions like in northern Missouri.

The National Weather Service in St. Louis on Monday measured the Missouri River in Jefferson City at 25 feet - 2 feet above flood stage - and predicted it would stay at that level through the beginning of next week. The river was forecast to fall below flood stage by March 26.

At 25 feet, the biggest impact would be the levee protecting McBaine being breached.

Rain is forecast Tuesday and into early Wednesday morning. Another chance of rain is forecast Saturday.

Union Pacific Railroad has had to reroute freight train traffic around flooded areas, which meant an increase in trains using the railroad's Missouri River line. There was so much traffic Sunday that the Missouri Department of Transportation announced delays of four to five hours on Amtrak's Missouri River Runner, and the passenger trains did not even run Monday. Buses were used to transport those who had purchased train tickets.

Amtrak's passenger train service was scheduled to resume Tuesday. MoDOT officials noted delays still could be possible, as freight traffic was still expected to be heavy on the line.

Cole County Emergency Manager Bill Farr said his office had not received any indication from Ameren Missouri officials of plans for major releases of water at Bagnell Dam. Further upstream on the Osage River at Truman Dam in Warsaw, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has not indicated plans for any major releases, he added.

"Unless we get some major rains, I think we should be in pretty good shape," Farr said.

As of Monday afternoon, the Missouri River at Chamois was expected to stay at or around 21 feet - 6 feet above flood stage - through the start of next week.

The Osage River at the Mari-Osa Delta was forecast to stay between 18-20 feet through the weekend. The flood stage there is 17 feet.

The Osage River near St. Thomas, the Moreau River near Jefferson City and the Maries River near Westphalia were not forecast to see any flooding this week.

There have been reports of some homes and structures flooding along the Missouri River in Hermann, where the river had risen to 25 feet Monday afternoon - 6 feet above flood stage - Farr said. The river was expected to drop throughout the week but to remain at or above flood stage until March 29.

Additional resources:

Mid-Missouri forecast, radar

Eastern Missouri river stages

Western Missouri river stages

Missouri road closings