It was an epic winter for accumulating snowfall to the north of Iowa. Much of this snowfall has melted and is now flowing south via the Mississippi River to produce flooding. It is somewhat fortunate that dry weather in Iowa and elsewhere this month has not added to stream flows. The featured chart presents recent USGS/NWS stage observations and forecasts for Guttenburg (northeastern Iowa). It shows a forecast crest happening Friday/Saturday and then receding afterwards. The crest reaching 21 feet would put it into "major flooding" category. These forecasts make assumptions about expected rainfall and rainfall runoff impacts take time to reach the Mississippi, so near-term unexpected heavy rainfall events and future events currently outside of the forecast window will impact future river stage observations.

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Tags:   flood   mississippi