Tennessee Issues Weekend Flood Warning for Mississippi River

December 31, 2015

Authorities issued a flood warning Dec. 29 for the Mississippi River in Memphis due to heavy rain in the central United States.

Emergency preparedness officials in Shelby County, which includes Memphis, said Tuesday that the flood warning begins on Saturday. Officials say the Mississippi River in Memphis is expected to crest at 43.5 feet, about 5 feet lower than the 1937 record of 48.7 feet.

Water in Mississippi River tributaries in Shelby County is already high. Officials say flooding could affect neighborhoods near those tributaries, including the low-lying city of Millington.

The river crested at 48.03 feet in 2011, when residents from Memphis-area trailer parks and other low-lying areas evacuated their flooded homes. Officials don’t expect the river to get that high this time.

Topics Flood Mississippi Tennessee

Was this article valuable?

Here are more articles you may enjoy.