Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 3:00 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 32.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 24.20 ftMon, Sep 28, 1:00 PM CDT
- Record crest
- 48.86 ft2016
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 42.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 37.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 32.00 ft |
| Action | 29.00 ft |
- 48.86 ftThis flood will exceed the highest stage on record.
- 43.00 ftThe flood gate on North Main Street closes.
- 42.00 ftSeveral homes and structures in southern Cape Girardeau County may be inundated or cut off due to backwater flooding from the Diversion Channel. Evacuations may be required. Thousands of acres are flooded. Numerous roads are closed both along the Mississippi River and due to backwater flooding.
- 38.00 ftThe flood gate at Broadway closes.
- 36.00 ftThe flood gate on Themis Street closes.
- 32.00 ftMinor flooding occurs. The Mississippi River backs into several creeks producing flooding.
- 29.00 ftThe area north of the Little River Diversion Channel begins to flood.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 23% |
| Moderate flooding | 10% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 16, 2026.
Crest history
40 crests on NOAA’s list since 1943.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 2, 2016 | 48.86 ft |
| 2 | August 8, 1993 | 48.49 ft |
| 3 | May 24, 1995 | 47.00 ft |
| 4 | August 3, 1993 | 46.90 ft |
| 5 | June 11, 2019 | 46.36 ft |
| 6 | May 3, 2011 | 46.28 ft |
| 7 | May 7, 2017 | 45.99 ft |
| 8 | May 18, 2002 | 45.70 ft |
| 9 | May 1, 1973 | 45.50 ft |
| 10 | April 29, 2011 | 45.35 ft |
| 11 | June 7, 2013 | 44.53 ft |
| 12 | April 17, 1979 | 44.10 ft |
| 13 | July 3, 2015 | 43.08 ft |
| 14 | May 27, 1943 | 42.40 ft |
| 15 | July 3, 2008 | 42.35 ft |
| 16 | July 5, 1947 | 41.90 ft |
| 17 | June 24, 2008 | 41.37 ft |
| 18 | March 24, 2008 | 41.04 ft |
| 19 | May 17, 1996 | 40.60 ft |
| 20 | September 21, 2008 | 40.06 ft |
| 21 | March 3, 1997 | 39.57 ft |
| 22 | May 22, 2010 | 39.46 ft |
| 23 | April 20, 1998 | 39.10 ft |
| 24 | November 4, 2009 | 39.07 ft |
| 25 | May 23, 2009 | 38.89 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 8, 2025: 33.74 ft
- July 12, 2024: 36.78 ft
- May 12, 2024: 35.07 ft
- March 22, 2021: 37.83 ft
- January 15, 2020: 37.49 ft
- June 11, 2019: 46.36 ft
- October 18, 2018: 36.82 ft
- May 7, 2017: 45.99 ft
- January 2, 2016: 48.86 ft
- July 3, 2015: 43.08 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Lower Mississippi 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 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>
Sources
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.