Mississippi threatens worst flooding in years

The rain-swollen Mississippi River is surging southward, threatening lowlands along its path with the worst flooding in years, an expert says. "The flood wave is propagating down the Mississippi River towards St. Louis at about the pace of a brisk walk," said Robert E. Criss, professor of earth and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Mississippi threatens worst flooding in years "Some areas north of St. Louis in Missouri and southern Iowa are bracing for the second-worst flood in their history. This is serious water." Criss, a geologist who specializes hydrogeology, told Science Daily, the floodwaters are projected to crest at St. Louis at 38 feet June 22 or 23, marking the 11th time since the Civil War St. Louis has reached that flood stage. In 1993, waters at St. Louis crested at 49.6 feet. "More rainfall is only going to make problems worse," Criss said. "If the region gets significantly more precipitation during the week ... it could make a place like Winfield, Mo., surpass even its flood of '93 totals." Criss expects the St. Louis area to miss the worst of the flooding but cities such as Hardin, Ill., less than 60 miles away, have a greater chance of being inundated.

Mississippi threatens worst flooding in years

"Some areas north of St. Louis in Missouri and southern Iowa are bracing for the second-worst flood in their history. This is serious water."

Criss, a geologist who specializes hydrogeology, told Science Daily, the floodwaters are projected to crest at St. Louis at 38 feet June 22 or 23, marking the 11th time since the Civil War St. Louis has reached that flood stage. In 1993, waters at St. Louis crested at 49.6 feet.

"More rainfall is only going to make problems worse," Criss said. "If the region gets significantly more precipitation during the week ... it could make a place like Winfield, Mo., surpass even its flood of '93 totals."

Criss expects the St. Louis area to miss the worst of the flooding but cities such as Hardin, Ill., less than 60 miles away, have a greater chance of being inundated.