FloodPrep Community Event on Wednesday Gives Look Ahead at 2020 Predictions
Date Posted: January 22, 2020
Posted In: Discussion, News,
From RiverBender: With freezing temperatures outside now throughout the Midwest and in Alton in late January, it won’t be long before spring comes and the winter freeze begins to melt. The past several years have been rough around the Riverbend area in regard to river flooding and spring ice melt in the northern areas of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
At Mel Price Lock and Dam, the second historic flood crest hit on June 9, 2019, of 39.01. The highest crest was 42.72 feet on Aug. 1, 1993. The third highest was June 18, 1844, of 36.90 feet and the fourth was 36.89 feet on April 28, 1973. The fifth was 35.80 feet on Jan. 1, 2016, so two of the five highest Mississippi River crests at Mel Price Lock and Dam were in the last five years. On May 6, 2017, the seventh-highest crest of 34.86 feet occurred, so three of the highest seven crests were in the last three years.
At 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the National Great Rivers Museum, No. 2 Lock and Dam Way, Alton, there will be a FloodPrep Community Event. Riverbender.com will videotape the Wednesday FloodPrep Community Event.