Skip to main content

Flooding and Birds Point Levee


Friday Evening Update:
Forecast River levels along the Ohio River at Paducah and Cairo have been lowered by around two feet. According to the City of Paducah, these lower levels will allow the city to keep from putting in additional flood gates. The Army Corps of Engineers is also more optimistic about not having to operate the Birds Point Floodway. Here is a look at the Ohio River with an aerial view this afternoon.


Video courtesy of UAVRG

 Friday Morning Update:
From the Birds Point New Madrid Floodway Information Center:
"Info from Thursday evening's Public Meeting with Congressman Jason Smith, Corps of Engineers leaders and local residents at Charleston, Mo. The National Weather Service has revised the forecasted river crest at Cairo, Ill., downward to 57.5 feet on Jan. 4 - good news for everyone."
The Red Cross shelter in Cape Girardeau continues to accept evacuees. With lower water levels projected for Cairo, IL, the likelihood of activating the Birds Point Floodway is becoming less likely. The Army Corps continues to monitor and remains in Phase II.

Video courtesy of UAVRG


 Thursday Afternoon Update:

Reminder: Town hall meeting tonight at 4 p.m. in Charleston. More information:
MEDIA ADVISORY: December 30, 2015
Congressman Jason Smith organizes open Town Hall Meeting at Clara Drinkwater Library to discuss Mississippi River Levels and surrounding Levees. On Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 4 pm, Congressman Jason Smith invites residents and media to speak directly with the Army Corps on the recent record rainfall and current levels on the Mississippi River. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the Army Corps and others to give a status update on current river levels, projected levels, and what the plan is for each levee. After the update, residents and the media will have a chance to ask questions.

WHAT: Status update and discussion on recent record rainfall and Levee integrity
WHERE: Clara Drinkwater Library, 105 E Marshall St, Charleston, Mo.
WHEN: Thursday, December 31, 2015, 4 pm

Wednesday 4:30PM from the Army Corps concerning Birds Point: 
"Memphis District Commander Col. Jeff Anderson spoke with Missouri Rep. Jason Smith.  Rep. Smith has scheduled a status update and discussion on recent record rainfall and levee integrity for the public at 4 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Clara Drinkwater Library, 105 E Marshall St, Charleston, MO."
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE:

As water levels continue to rise along the Mississippi, all eyes and ears are on Birds Point Levee again less than 5 years after the historic event that occurred there in 2011. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Army Corps of Engineers that operate the Birds Point / New Madrid Floodway is still in Phase II of operations meaning they are in observation and prepare mode in the event they need to take further steps to relieve flooding from the MS River. Phase III is when they will move to make the floodway operational. The Army Corps takes every means possible to NOT activate this option but will in extreme cases. For now, we wait and cross our fingers for a better scenario.
National Weather Service forecasts for the MS River continue to point toward record setting levels near Cape Girardeau and Thebes. Due to this flooding, there are some major roadway closures:

"US 51 in Ballard County will be closed in two places at midnight because of flooding.The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the US 51 Ohio River "Cairo" Bridge and US 51 south of Wickliffe near the Ballard-Carlisle County line will be closed.Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says they expect these two sites to be closed for at least a week.Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative routes.Along with the road closures, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is urging everyone to not move and drive through traffic barricades into floodwaters.Law enforcement is working with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and will write citations to those who move traffic barricades."
Latest  River/Lakes Stages and Forecast Heights as of Wednesday afternoon: Click Here

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Planting Zones Heading North

As our global climate changes, so does our planting zones, helping us determine which flowers/shrubs/trees are hardy in specific areas. The Local 6 area has always been split by 2-3 growing zones so placement becomes very important to those in the agricultural community. The image below represents the average over the past 30 years. Climate Central published the following information:  "What kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees you’ll find at your local nursery depends on your climate — how warm it tends to get in summer, and how cold in winter. A plant that’s happy in Wisconsin might be miserable in Alabama, and vice versa. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has formalized these differences into " hardiness zones " — strips of similar climate that run more or less east-to-west (except in the high mountains), where particular plants should do especially well. But as the planet warms under its thickening blanket of greenhouse gases, those zones are shifting northward. Th...
46 comments
Read more

Longer Allergy Seasons

The National Phenology Network is showing the early arrival of leaves on trees in the Ohio Valley, the Midwest, and Western United States this year. This trend has become more of a norm over the past past 50 years.   Climate Central published data this week showing the same trend since 1970 with notable attention to the West where states are seeing as many as 17 more frost-free days, extending the growing season. Here in the Local 6 area, the growth is not as notable but still averaging between 4-9 days additional to the growing season. Why does this matter? Aside from having an influence on which plants are suitable for planting zones, it has a much higher societal impact by extending the allergy season.  "As the climate warms from the increase of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the last spring freeze is trending earlier and the first fall freeze is coming later. This means the growing season is getting longer, and so is the pollen season— whether it i...
4 comments
Read more

Updates on Upcoming Winter Weather Events

Sunday Morning Update: A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of the WPSD Local 6 area with a handful of counties just reaching Winter Storm criteria. Here is the latest map. They are in effect until early Monday. Snowfall totals have not changed much from last nights posting and I really feel this will still just be a road impact for Monday morning. Here is the projected snowfall total map: Sorry, TN. Looks like another near miss on the snow for you. :( Saturday Night Update: A Winter Storm Watch has been issued by the Paducah National Weather Service for most of the WPSD Local 6 area. Portions of NW TN and MO Bootheel have been placed under a Winter Weather Advisory all for winters weather on Sunday as colder air begins to arrive.   Rain will switch over to freezing rain, sleet, and snow during the day on Sunday eventually leading to accumulations in the watch/advisory areas. Initially any frozen precip will melt thanks to Saturday's mild temps and warmer pavement surfac...
4 comments
Read more