Flood outlook improves on Mississippi

The outlook for spring flooding along the Mississippi River has improved this week, according to the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wis.

“It's looking like we are OK right now,” Hydrologist Mike Welvaert said today.

“The peak river levels will be a little lower than we earlier thought, but the high water will last longer,” Welvaert said.

Heavy precipitation earlier this week fell mostly as snow in substantial parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. Given the forecast for unseasonably cool weather in the days ahead, “that means the moisture will be frozen in place, rather than running quickly off into rivers,” he said.

Welvaert said the Upper Mississippi, which is expected to hit flood stage at most locations this weekend, will likely remain elevated for six weeks.

During that period, heavy rains could easily raise the river to much higher levels, he said.

Similar circumstances prevailed in both 1965 and 2001, the years with the two highest crests at most Upper Mississippi river locations, Welvaert said.

Based on conditions Thursday, Welvaert said he thinks the river will hit its spring peak during the first week of April.