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More rain brings added flooding problems
Courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
More severe weather has crossed the nation this week possibly resulting
in more problems with rivers leaving their banks, according to Brad Rippey, a meteorologist
at the USDA.
“That is likely to trigger some additional fieldwork delays as well as some
flash flooding and small stream flooding,” said Rippey, in comments provided by
the USDA. “It eventually will work its way to the tributaries and into the mainstem
Mississippi and other major rivers.”
The Mississippi River at Davenport, Iowa, has already had its highest crest since
1993, and is approaching record crests at St. Louis.
“We’ve already got a serious flood situation with barge traffic disruptions in the
Middle Mississippi Valley,” said Rippey, “and in time this could prolong some
of the issues related to the high water and swift currents that we’re experiencing
in the mainstem Mississippi.”
Flooding is compounded by breached levees in some areas. The generally wet
spring has prevented planting on millions of acres of farmland that would
normally be planted by now.
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