Please see below and attached updated river crest forecast issued by the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center issued on 4/22/25. 

Below and attached is the latest projections from the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center.  Their projections for the lower river have increased and the crest is now predicted to be 16.9 on the Carrollton Gauge.   

 

The Corps continues to advise that trigger points for the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway have still not been met.   Current projections show that the trigger point could be reached next week (April 29th) and if needed, the spillway would be operational for about 8-10 days.  If the spillway is opened next week, Bonnet Carre Anchorage will be closed.

 

The Baton Rouge gauge is expected to reach 40 feet on Thursday morning.  The Coast Guard will be issuing a MSIB tomorrow that will include additional restrictions to navigation between Baton Rouge and Donaldsonville for deep draft vessels.  Further explanation on these closures will be sent out later today.

 

Please continue to monitor your email for updates.

Cairo, IL continues to fall despite rising conditions on the Upper Mississippi and should see it below flood now within the 5 day window.

Increased flows from the Arkansas are causing a later, broad crest at Arkansas City to 42.0 ft on the 26th . With the broader crest on the Middle Mississippi we adjusted crests from Vicksburg to New Orleans up to 1.0 ft higher and a day later.  

Significant rises will occur on the Lower Mississippi over the next week, with current crests at New Orleans on May 1st at 16.9 ft. The Lower Mississippi River will be elevated through the month of April and half way into May.

 

The Oachita R. at Monroe, LA is near crest with a peak value at 37.5 ft for later this evening.