RAIN PUTS RIVER ON RAPID RISE; STORMY WEATHER SHOULD END TODAY

Forget the umbrella. The stormy weather is expected to move on east today.

Southeast Missouri, drenched by heavy rains this week, could see some dry weather as early as today, forecasters say.

But heavy rain in Missouri and elsewhere in the Midwest river basins is expected to send the Mississippi River over flood stage at Cape Girardeau this weekend. The river is expected to be at 18.3 feet today. It is expected to rise to 32.2 feet on Saturday and crest at 33 feet on Sunday, a foot above flood stage.

The storm clouds, which moved into the area Monday night, should be through the area by this morning, said forecaster Kevin Smith with the National Weather Service office in Paducah, Ky.

The departure of the storm front will bring cooler temperatures. Highs are expected in the 60s today in Southeast Missouri.

Monday night's storm dumped 1.35 inches of rain on the Cape Girardeau area. Advance and Bloomfield registered 2.8 inches of rain. Marble Hill received 2.32 inches of rain. More rain arrived Tuesday night.

"The most we had was 4.49 inches," Smith said. The rainfall was heaviest in the deep Bootheel, including an area between Poplar Bluff and New Madrid.

Southeast Missouri has fared well compared to other parts of the state hit hard by heavy rain.

In Kansas City, seven people died after 7 inches of rain fell Sunday night. City officials said the storm caused the worst flooding since the 1977 flood killed 25 and caused $100 million in damages.

Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson declared a state of emergency Tuesday because of flash flooding across the state. Wilson acted on behalf of Gov. Mel Carnahan, who is in Europe on a trade mission.

Wilson said the declaration prepares state officials to deal with the flooding.

"It just puts everybody on notice that we're ready," Wilson told The Associated Press.

Carnahan, who is in Paris, approved the move.

Mark Hasheider, Cape Girardeau's emergency operations coordinator, said heavy rains Monday night didn't result in serious flooding.

Hasheider said the ground had been so dry that the water was quickly soaked up.

He said even some of the construction projects around town weren't affected much by the wet weather.

"Most of the weather that I am seeing right now is slip sliding from Southeast to Northeast," Hasheider said.

Cape Girardeau city staff continue to keep check on intersections that are prone to flash flooding.

Hasheider said the city always is looking at ways to address flooding problems. "Some of them are hard fixes," he said.

The federally funded flood-control project along Cape LaCroix Creek and Walker Branch has helped lessen the threat of flash flooding in the city, Hasheider said.

Of the rising river, Hasheider said, "We don't expect any problems at all."

Much of the flood-prone property along the river has been purchased through a flood buyout program in recent years.

The river has to reach about 40 feet on the gauge, eight feet over flood stage, before there is any noticeable flooding.

The Main Street Levee District closes the floodwall gate at Themis Street when the river reaches 35 feet. At 38 feet, the Broadway gate is closed. The levee district's Andy Juden Jr. said there are no plans to open the pumping station if the river crests as expected Sunday.