Mississippi River at Chester

1. 53.00 ftNear this height, the Ste. Genevieve County levee #3 is overtopped.
2. 51.00 ftThe Health Care Unit of the Menard Correctional Center begins flooding near this height. Also at this height, the Grand Tower levee is overtopped. This levee protects 14,800 acres.
3. 50.00 ftSte. Genevieve, Ft. Chartres, Ivy Landing, and Kaskaskia Island levees overtopped.
4. 49.50 ftNear this height, the Bois Brule, Degognia, and Fountain Bluff levees are overtopped. The Bois Brule levee protects 26,060 acres. The Degognia and Fountain Bluff levees protect 36,200 acres.
5. 49.40 ftStringtown and Prairie DuRocher levees overtopped.
6. 49.00 ftDegognia and Fountain Bluff Levee overtopped.
7. 47.50 ftThe Ardent Mills Chester Mill begins flooding near this height.
8. 45.50 ftNear this height, Missouri Route H will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to Route M.
9. 45.10 ftNear this height, Missouri Route M is closed in both directions at River Aux Vases.
10. 45.00 ftAt this height, the Chester waterworks pumphouse floods.
11. 44.00 ftAt this height, Missouri State Highway 51 is closed from Perry County Road 944 to the Illinois State Line at the bridge into Chester.
12. 42.40 ftNear this height, Missouri Route H is closed between Route M and Missouri Highway 51.
13. 42.30 ftNear this height, Missouri State Route U will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to the Illinois State line at the Kaskaskia Island bridge.
14. 42.00 ftFour cottage units at the Menard Correctional Center begin flooding near this height.
15. 41.10 ftNear this height, Missouri Route V southeast of Bloomsdale is closed between Highway 61 and North White Sands Road.
16. 40.79 ftMain Street in Evansville inundated.
17. 40.00 ftA hunting lodge near the mouth of the Kaskaskia River begins flooding.
18. 39.00 ftRailroad tracks in St. Mary, Missouri begin flooding.
19. 38.70 ftIllinois State Highway 155 at Prairie du Rocher begins flooding near this height.
20. 38.40 ftAt this level IL Route 3 at levee east of Cora inundated.
21. 38.10 ftNear this level, Illinois Route 3 near the Mary's River bridge is closed.
22. 37.70 ftNear this height, Route J is closed in both directions at U.S. Highway 61.
23. 37.60 ftAt this height, Missouri Route M between Route H and Perry County Road 924 is closed.
24. 37.50 ftThe southbound lane on Kaskaskia Street and the south parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
25. 37.20 ftNear this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed between Ste. Genevieve and Route J.
26. 37.00 ftUnion Pacific property along Water Street begins to flood.
27. 36.90 ftNear this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed from Route J to St. Mary.
28. 36.50 ftChester water intake house is flooded... damage begins to occur to 4 homes and administration buildings at Menard State Prison. Prairie DuRocher pump station damaged and road to Kaskaskia Lock inundated.
29. 36.00 ftChester water works pumphouse is threatened by flood waters. Highway 61 is closed at the bend at St. Mary and a detour is set up through town. Near this height, St. Genevieve County levee #2 is overtopped. This levee protects 7000 acres.
30. 35.20 ftIn Perry County, Highway C is closed between County Roads 352 and 354 (the Levee Road) near Menfro.
31. 35.00 ftSte. Genevieve flood gates are closed at this level.
32. 34.79 ftKaskaskia Street near the Menard Prison begins flooding near this height.
33. 34.70 ftThe north parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
34. 33.50 ftWater Street in Chester begins flooding.
35. 33.00 ftWithin a foot of this height, Highway A is closed between County Roads 448 and 460 at Wittenberg in southern Perry County.
36. 32.50 ftThe Road at Fort Gage Farm begins flooding at Menard Correctional Center.
37. 31.50 ftIn Perry County, Highway E is closed between County Road 322 and Levee Road (County Road 354) at Bois Brule Creek.
38. 28.00 ftUnleveed islands near Chester and the prison farm floods.
39. 27.00 ftFlood Stage. Unprotected farmland on right bank begins to flood.
40. 25.00 ftDegognia Fountain Bluff Levee gates are closed.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• May 2, 2026: 31.42 ft
• April 21, 2026: 27.84 ft
• July 11, 2024: 34.16 ft
• May 29, 2024: 27.55 ft
• May 3, 2024: 31.22 ft
• July 5, 2022: 28.00 ft
• May 8, 2022: 32.28 ft
• July 2, 2021: 31.04 ft
• April 14, 2021: 30.76 ft
• March 21, 2021: 33.85 ft

• UpstreamMississippi River at Herculaneum
• DownstreamMississippi River at Cape Girardeau
• S Fork Saline Creek at Perryville
• Mississippi River at Red Rock Landing
• Mississippi River at Grand Tower
• Big Muddy River at Murphysboro
• Kaskaskia River at New Athens
• Little St. Francis River at Fredericktown
• Mississippi River at Moccasin Springs

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. For the latest navigation status update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District, <a href="http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Status-Reports/">click here.</a>

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.