Memphis Weather Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I realize the level of coverage on the forum has gone way down since the crests have come out of the MW/OH Valley core...but just an update from Memphis and this area... Memphis exceeded 47' Today and is still on track to crest at 48' sometime next week...the second highest level of all time...just behind 48.7 in the Great flood of 1937. About 1,000 people in Memphis have been evacuated...mostly on the North and West side of Memphis where its not so much the MS but backwater flooding on the tributaries that's flooding homes and businesses in that area. The bluffs are protecting most of the city core and downtown except areas immediately adjacent to the River (Riverside Drive). Further South...the Tunica, MS Casino district is for all purposes completely inundated. Will likely be weeks for the waters to recede and cleanup to take place before the casinos can reopen. Huge amounts of revenue lost that much of Mississippi depends on. Could be crippling for them. The situation could be even worse further downstream for communities south of the White River drainage that is also at record levels adding even more volume (areas like Greenville...Vicksburg...Natchez and so forth). At any rate...here is Today's view of Riverside and Beale here in Memphis (note: not my own picture)... Doubt we will see this repeated in our lifetimes again. You can see Mud Island River Park is mostly submerged in the background. The flagpole and amphitheatre areas are basically their own separate islands at this point as the only area remaining above the water line...Further up Mud Island is the Harbor Town community that will be within a few feet of the expected crest levels...but should come out okay with only minimal issues (they are advising that yards...basements and garages at homes immediately adjacent to the shore line may flood) Finally...the waters are reaching well into Tom Lee Park now as well. This ironic scene (again...not my own picture) shows the Tom Lee memorial statue being surrounded by water. Tom Lee was the river worker who couldn't swim...but saved 32 lives by pulling people onshore from his small boat after witnessing the steamboat Norman sink in 1925 at Memphis ( little history lesson for you ). I believe every major network has been in Memphis the last few days covering things from here. I'm sure they'll move downstream later in the upcoming week as the waters continue moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 THE WABASH RIVER AT MOUNT CARMEL CRESTED AT A RECORD LEVEL...WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST LEVELT SINCE MAY 1943. THE OHIO RIVER AT J T MYERS LOCK AND DAM CRESTED FRIDAY EVENING AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE FEBRUARY 1937. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indystorm Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Back from a trip along the mid Ohio Valley from Madison IN to Cincinnati area. Lowland flooding, but nothing like farther sw in the lower Ohio reaches and on the Mississippi. Had to travel into KY to reach Cincinnati instead of going east on the IN side of the river from Madison due to mud slides and debris closing State road 56. Noticed very few acres of crops planted as we headed se through Indiana because fields are way too wet. I do think we have the potential for higher dews with all the surface moisture in our area and higher CAPES due to sw flow from the drought conditions in the southern plains and TX in coming days. At least Clifty Falls was actually roaring and I saw some intermittent waterfalls I would not see there on summer visits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Weather Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 Looks like Memphis gauge has been leveling off overnight...and we are either very close or within crest right now...between 47.5 and 47.7 feet...a little below the predicted 48ft crest and well before the Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning timeline. This has actually been happening at every upstream location so far...an early and low crest...and seems to be repeating here. Of course...a few tenths is not going to be a huge deal...but getting it in early could be especially helpful...though it could well hover in the 47' range for days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Weather Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 ***Temporary Gauge has been Set Up at Memphis*** http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/WaterControl/shefdata2.cfm?sid=FS103&d=7&dt=S Latest reading is 47.78 The Primary Gauge has been malfunctioning since Saturday with numerous false spikes...dips...or otherwise missing readings (went completely offline last night)...this one should ensure the historical record is preserved accurately for the coming crest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Msalgado Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 I've seen virtually no discussion about this anywhere or in the news and while its a bit farther down stream this is probably the best place to post about it. The Old River Control Structure came really really close to failure in 1973. If that system fails, the Mississippi will more than likely switch channels into the Atchafalaya river and that has serious ramifications to every city downstream including Baton Rogue and New Orleans. Anyone have any information as to how well that system can handle a flood thats even bigger or at the least on par with 1973? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Weather Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 MS River Crested this Morning at Memphis...at 47.87 feet...just barely shy of the forecast 48' predicted crest and within a foot of the flood of record in 1937...48.7ft. It will be a very slow recession of water...however...Memphis is likely to remain above major flood stage of 46ft the rest of the week. Fantastic panoramic view of the Mississippi River @ Memphis...29 Floors Up...Taken earlier Today by Patrick T. Mullins... Much larger full resolution picture here... http://www.patricktm...od-photos-2011/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Weather Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 To add to my previous post...Borrowed this from another poster at another forum...gives you perspective on what Mud Island near the center of the picture would normally look like given an average river level... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
North Balti Zen Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 Thanks for those pics. I lived in Memphis from 1998 to 2009 before moving to Baltimore. Just stunning to see the river that high. I worked downtown and was one block up from Riverside Drive, which is now In the River Drive if it were to be renamed based on what has happened. Just an amazing perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Weather Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 NASA images Today of Memphis Before and After... Follow the link and download the large image if you can...it has the entire perspective from about Caruthersville to Tunica...quite an image... http://earthobservat...49&src=eoa-iotd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Lizard Posted May 11, 2011 Share Posted May 11, 2011 I've seen virtually no discussion about this anywhere or in the news and while its a bit farther down stream this is probably the best place to post about it. The Old River Control Structure came really really close to failure in 1973. If that system fails, the Mississippi will more than likely switch channels into the Atchafalaya river and that has serious ramifications to every city downstream including Baton Rogue and New Orleans. Anyone have any information as to how well that system can handle a flood thats even bigger or at the least on par with 1973? This might be an interesting event, to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlehurricane Posted May 13, 2011 Share Posted May 13, 2011 Nice MCS moving across the Mississippi river right now, only complicating matters further. This is becoming more serious by the day, and there's even a remote possibility of the river re-directing itself. The following links have tons of info about what's going on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Mississippi_River_floods http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted May 15, 2011 Share Posted May 15, 2011 I would say so also Beau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stebo Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Amazing Yeah this is pretty crazy and its still rising even at Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxsmwhrms Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Pattern is starting to look increasingly favorable for a several day heavy rain event in the AR/MO/OK area late this week into early next week. Will have to be watched closely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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