2023 Spring Flooding Thread

[OrdIowPitMsp]

This is across the river from downtown Minneapolis. Major flooding is imminent for St. Paul

[kevlon62]

St. Croix looked mighty and ominous crossing at Hudson this afternoon.

[Geoboy645]

Well each day the crest forecasts just keep going up and up. Every gauge sans one (Alma, WI) from St Cloud to Burlington, IA is forecasted to crest in either moderate or major flood stage within the next 2 weeks. With every gauge from Dubuque to Burlington cresting in major stage. Which is particularly insane because the crest still isn't even in the forecast period that far south. It's barely in the forecast period for Minneapolis and Hastings. Which btw, those areas are likely to experience a very long time at major flood stage. Hastings for instance has reached major flood stage as of last night, and isn't actually supposed to crest until at least next week Wednesday. This is because as the main Mississippi crest north of Minneapolis pulses through, the Minnesota crest from the Coteau des Prairies is going to be right behind it. That crest hasn't even reached New Ulm, and the main snowpack melted a week ago at this point. Plus now we have the new snow from today's storm which will send the rivers back up in that drainage basin and the Upper Mississippi. The Black has also been pushed back up to moderate stage at Black River Falls and Galesville from the rain and snowmelt the last couple days, which is the reason why the gauges south of La Crosse are just going nuts. Most of them are practically a straight diagonal line up, such as McGregor IA. There, they may actually break the 1965 crest at the pace it is increasing. At least it seems that most streams sans the ones named, and the Wisconsin at Portage, are pretty much done with significant flooding, for now. Emphasis on the for now. 

[Geoboy645]

As a side note that doesn't really apply to the subforum per se but is still something to note. The first of the meltwater pulses from the megapack in the Sierras seems to be starting this coming weekend. This means that a lot of the rivers in the Central Valley are also about to go back up into flood stage potentially. This will also greatly intensifying the already bad Lake Tulare situation. Looking ahead into next month, we are going to be having two major long-term flooding events occuring at the same time in two different parts of the country. Talk about a far cry from the widespread drought of last Autumn. 

[madwx]

just want to add that these updates are great and appreciate you making them.  Might have to go view the Mississippi later next week or the weekend afterwards.  

[kevlon62]

Had a look last night.

[SolidIcewx]

Some photos in Missouri for the 2019 flooding. Gonna be a couple posts

[SolidIcewx]

[SolidIcewx]

[SolidIcewx]

[SolidIcewx]

File size limits I apologize but wanted to share some photos I’ve found. I got more also. Hoping we don’t get a repeat but it’s looking that way

[OrdIowPitMsp]

2 hours ago, kevlon62 said:

Had a look last night.

Stone Arch Bridge? I’m surprised they haven’t closed it for safety concerns. Check out Minnehaha Falls if you’ve got a chance. 

[kevlon62]

Stone Arch Bridge? I’m surprised they haven’t closed it for safety concerns. Check out Minnehaha Falls if you’ve got a chance. 

Yes.

I'll see if we can run by there.

[Geoboy645]

Well this week is the week of the crest. We are now at Mdt or Major forecasted crests at every gauge from St Paul to south of Keokuk IA. And an astounding ~300 miles of forecasted major crests from Winona to Burlington, IA. The crests themselves have gone up slightly, and pretty much every gauge is going to have a top 10 if not 5 or even 3 or 2 crest all time. No crest looks to break records as of rn, at least north of Dubuque. South of Dubuque, is a maybe at some spots including Davenport which is now only 1 ft below the 2019 record crest. Even to the south of Keokuk there are several gauges that are going up into mdt stage, and we have at least forecasted flood stages down to the Illinois confluence. The pattern this week looks to focus the rain south and west of the basin, mainly in the Arkansas and Kansas basins which are quite low because of the drought in the plains. This should help with the crest south of the Missouri, although this is so far out that may very well change. Back up north, we are going to have lock and dam closures at various points along the river during the next week, which will greatly affect shipping along the river. Overall, this is looking to be the worst week of flooding along the Upper Mississippi since 2001 north of Dubuque and 2019 south of Dubuque. 

[CheeselandSkies]

Is the additional heavy, waterlogged snow in the UP going to melt into the upper MS watershed?

[Lightning]

32 minutes ago, CheeselandSkies said:

Is the additional heavy, waterlogged snow in the UP going to melt into the upper MS watershed?

For the most part.. No.