Friday's storms produce record rainfall

Cape Girardeau saw record-breaking rainfall as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill moved through the area Friday.

Meteorologist Rick Shanklin of the National Weather Service said Friday's storms brought 2.38 inches of rain; a record for maximum daily rainfall in Cape Girardeau.

"The old record was 1.90 inches, and that was in 1981," he said.

Cape Girardeau, this year to date, has had more than 6 inches more rainfall than average.

The Mississippi River, which already was above flood level before Friday's rainfall, was measured Saturday morning and found to have risen 2.3 feet over 24 hours to 40.1 feet. The river is expected to crest at 43.5 feet Tuesday morning.

Forecasts predict a 20 percent chance of more rain today and a 10 percent chance Monday and Tuesday.