NWS predicts flooding in Cape, other local counties

The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Tuesday for several Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois cities along the Mississippi River, including Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott counties in Missouri and Union and Alexander counties in Illinois.

Heavy rainfall and rising river levels along the Missouri River will spread downstream into the Mississippi River, the weather service said in a statement issued at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The Mississippi is expected to rise above flood stage at Cape Girardeau on Friday morning and at Thebes by Sunday mornning.

Predictions issued Tuesday morning show that the river will crest at Cape Girardeau at 37.5 feet on the gauge on May 16. Those predictions are based on past rainfall and expected rainfall for 24 hours. Additional rains could prolong the crest or push it higher.

In the warning, the weather service said that at 38 feet, the first homes in Cape Girardeau are affected by high water.

Check back at www.semissourian.com for updates or read Wednesday's Southeast Missourian.