MUSCATINE, Iowa – The Mississippi River crested at 18.80 feet on Tuesday and while the high river level may not have affected many residents this time, the crest does mark the sixth time in 2019 that the Mississippi River has crested in flood stage. The six crests in flood stage is the most ever recorded in Muscatine during a single calendar year.
Five of those crests came during the record stretch of 99 consecutive days that the river was above flood stage (March 15-June 22) including the third highest crest in Muscatine history at 24.52 feet on June 2. After several months below flood stage, the river rose once again and has been in flood stage for the past 13 days, giving Muscatine 112 days above flood stage on the 289th day of the year.
The current round of flooding has primarily affected Riverside Park with half of the parking spaces now covered with flood water and the Riverview Center and Pearl City Station both inaccessible.
The National Weather Service in Davenport projects the Mississippi River at Muscatine will continue to fall and be below moderate flood stage (18 feet) on Sunday. Depending on precipitation in the Upper Mississippi River Valley area, the Mississippi River should exit flood stage around October 26. Forecasted rainfall over the weekend should not affect river levels.
Flood resources including the National Weather Service forecast are available on the City of Muscatine web site (FLOOD RESOURCES).