MISSISSIPPI, OHIO RIVERS ARE AGAIN RISING

The Mississippi and Ohio rivers are rising again.

After hitting its low for the month at 34.2 feet Monday, the Mississippi River rose one-tenth of a foot at Cape Girardeau Tuesday, to 34.3, and will continue its upward climb to a crest of 38 feet Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Ohio River at Cairo, Ill., is well above the 40-foot flood stage. On Tuesday the Ohio at Cairo was at 47.4 feet. The Ohio was also reported above flood stage at Metropolis, across the Ohio River from Paducah, Ky., at 46.7 Tuesday.

For the second time this month, the Themis Street flood gate was closed in downtown Cape Girardeau Tuesday.

"We close the Themis gate before the river reaches 36 feet," said Dave McLain, of the Merriwether Pumping Station.

The Mississippi River is forecast to crest here Saturday at 38 feet. "We may not have to close the Broadway gate," added McLain. "It has to be closed at about 38 feet. We'll be keeping close watch."

The flood stage at Cape Girardeau is 32 feet. The Mississippi River topped that mark April 30 of this year, and continued to rise to a crest of 36.6 feet by May 2, before receding.

The Ohio River is expected to crest at 49.5 feet Sunday. The 8th Street flood gate at Cairo has been closed, but the 6th Street gate remains open, according to the city superintendent's office.

With both flood gates closed in downtown Cairo, the city is protected by its levee district to a river height of about 60 feet.

The latest rises in of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers were blamed on heavy weekend rains.

And, the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky. is again calling for thunderstorms and rain throughout Southeast Missouri, Southern Illinois and West Kentucky.

Chris Noles, weather meteorologist at the National Weather Service at Paducah, said forecasts for thunderstorm activity, with chances of thunderstorms, goes into the weekend.