River to crest Wednesday below predicted level

The Mississippi River will crest Wednesday three feet below the level predicted immediately after last week's heavy rains, the National Weather Service predicted Tuesday. The river is projected to reach 39.5 feet on the Cape Girardeau gauge, 7.5 feet above flood stage. Original predictions showed the river cresting at 42.5 feet. Downtown floodgates were closed Friday and the high water has suspended rail traffic through downtown Cape Girardeau. The floodgate on the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe Railroad north of downtown was closed Monday. The river is expected to fall slowly to 36 feet by Sunday morning, barring additional rains. No prediction has been issued on when the river will fall below flood stage, which is 32 feet.