RIVER RISES AS STORMS POUND

The nearly weeklong bout of severe weather that has pounded much of the region has given way to another familiar problem: flooding.

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau was expected to be back above flood stage today, less than a week after dropping below the 32-foot flood stage on April 23.

The National Weather Service said the river here is forecast to crest almost 10 feet above flood stage on Tuesday if no rain occurs over the weekend.

Torrential rains that fell along the Missouri River in central Missouri on Wednesday and Thursday are blamed for the second round of flooding on the river this month. On April 17, the Mississippi crested here at 41.9 feet.

Sharp rises were reported Friday on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles, and lesser rises on the Mississippi from Alton to Chester, Ill.

The Missouri River at Waverly and at Booneville rose 7.7 feet during the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. Friday. At Jefferson City, Hermann and Washington, the river rose 6 feet during the same period.

At St. Louis the Mississippi rose 4 feet while at Chester, Ill., the river rose over 3 feet on Friday.

The Meramec River, which forced about 1,000 Valley Park residents from their homes earlier this month, was expected to crest 6-12 feet above flood stage late Friday or early today at several points from Steelville toward St. Louis.

The Mississippi at Cape Girardeau was at 30.9 feet Friday morning. It was forecast to go above flood stage today, at 32.8 feet. It is expected to be at 34.6 feet on Sunday and 35.6 feet on Monday, cresting Tuesday at 36.6 feet.

A flash flood watch was in effect for all day Friday and Friday night across all of southern Missouri from Springfield to Ste. Genevieve and Cape Girardeau. The weather service said heavy rain on saturated soils would drain quickly into rivers and streams, causing them to rise rapidly.

C.A. "Andy" Juden of the Main Street Levee District here reported the Merriwether Street pump station went back on line Friday afternoon as the river approached flood stage. "Depending on what the forecast is, we'll close the Themis Street floodgate today or Sunday," said Juden.