Mississippi River News

Midwest Towns Hope Worst of Flood Is Behind Them

Officials in several Mississippi River towns were cautiously optimistic on July 10 that they’ll soon emerge from this year’s flood with relatively minor damage. Water levels were dropping in several places, including Clarksville, Mo., where a furious sandbagging effort over …

Flood Warnings for Tennessee, Kentucky Near Mississippi River

Flood warnings have been issued in Tennessee and Kentucky as the Mississippi River starts to slowly rise from northern floodwaters, but officials say the rising water should not have a significant impact. Marlene Mickelson, a meteorologist at the National Weather …

Rain Prompts Flood Worries in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa

The Mississippi River, so low for much of the winter that barge traffic was nearly halted, could reach up to 10 feet above flood stage by the middle of next week in parts of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri, National Weather …

Barge Spills Oil after Collision on Lower Mississippi River

A collision involving a barge Thursday night resulted in an oil spill near Baton Rouge, Louisiana on the Mississippi River, the United States Coast Guard said on Friday. The amount of oil spilled was unknown, but the accident was not …

Mississippi River Closure After Accident Delays 300 Barges

More than 300 barges were awaiting passage through a closed section of the Mississippi River near Vicksburg, Mississippi, on Monday, a day after two tanker barges struck a railroad bridge and one leaked an unknown amount of oil into the …

Mississippi Homeowners Sign Up for Flood Buyouts

Eighteen north Vicksburg homeowners who suffered damage from the Mississippi River flooding this spring have signed up for the city’s buyout program. The Vicksburg Post reported the voluntary buyout will be conducted in two phases. The first involves homes in …

During Floods, Mississippi River Tried to Carve New Path

Since the waters from this spring’s floods receded, officials have identified places where the Mississippi River tried to carve out new channels and change course. From northwest Tennessee to Louisiana, the Mississippi tried to cut through river bends and remove …

Mississippi River Flood Recovery Slow and Sad for Many

James Winters walked slowly through the sweltering remains of his waterlogged home, then wiped the sweat from his brow and pointed to a ceiling fan — the sagging blades were covered in mold because the Mississippi River flooded the house …

Mississippi River Closed to Traffic at Natchez

The key waterway for U.S. grain exports was cut off Monday when the U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River near Natchez, Mississippi. The Coast Guard said 15 miles of the Mississippi was closed to all traffic to protect ships …

Weather Pattern Behind Current Mississippi River Flood Similar to 1993

The flooding that has inundated low-lying communities and farmland for miles along the Upper and Lower Mississippi River is due to a large, slow-moving storm system that was spawned nearly a month ago. “The flooding began when a critical weather …