This is the edge of the Mississippi last Saturday afternoon. The river level is normally much lower. The old cobblestone levee, now underwater, is used for parking. These days driftwood floats downstream and washes up on the shore.
That was then. We had torrents of rain for the rest of the weekend. I had some business in Illinois yesterday and as I drove back to this side I could see that the water level was well over the base of the flagpoles in the upper right of the top photo. Maybe a 3 or 4 meter rise in three days.
The major highways that approach St. Louis from the south and southwest are closed due to flooding. Tuesday was sunny but at least 3 inches / 7.5 cm of rain are predicted for today and tomorrow. We may float away.
3 comments:
Even in Holland the Mississippi is know for its changing water levels with its flooding effects. About your question yesterday I have never experienced a flood from the canals in my memory. Only in Amsterdam North broke a dike in Tuindorp Oostzaan and in 3 hours there stood water over 200 hectares. (1960). Most flooding are from rivers in the spring when they transport the melting waters from the Alps to the sea and step outside their banks. Only in 1953 by a heavy storm and high tide a sea dike broke in Sealand with horrible effect. More then 4000 people lost their lives and it led to the delta works that protect us now on the coastline.
Blimey that's a lot of rain Bob! I'm just trying to imagine the flags underwater. I gather from s.c's comment above that this is a regular event so I guess there are precautions at the ready?
We've had some high waters in the last couple of weeks through the Ottawa Valley, but not like what I've been seeing out of St. Louis.
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