Flood crest at Cape Girardeau downgraded

The National Weather Service downgraded the expected flood crest for the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau on Sunday.

The crest, forecast to reach near 43.5 feet earlier in the week, is now expected to top out near 42 feet by Thursday morning, according to a revised flood warning issued Sunday morning.

Flood stage is 32 feet.

Thanks to buyouts, the primary effect of the flooding in the Cape Girardeau area is the inundation of thousands of acres of farm land.