The Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers are set to rise to ‘record-breaking’ levels as the Midwest reels from ‘catastrophic’ flooding with MORE rain to come this week
The flooded Arkansas River is expected to crest at a record high of 42.5 feet in Van Burden on Wednesday
The Mississippi River is projected to crest at 44 feet in St. Louis this week – the second-highest level in history
The Arkansas River topped two levees on Tuesday and has flooded hundreds of homes in Arkansas and Oklahoma, leading to evacuations
President Donald Trump tweeted his support to Arkansas’ governor in light of the record floods on Tuesday
Evacuations were ordered in nine Arkansas counties, the Red Cross reported 16 people in shelters Tuesday
Five to seven inches of rain is forecast to fall in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri on Tuesday and Wednesday, adding to the floods
By MARLENE LENTHANG
DAILYMAIL.COM
29 May 2019
As the nation reels from heatwaves, tornadoes, and storm warnings, the Midwest is about to be inundated with record flooding this week as several major rivers are forecast to reach historic levels.
The Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers are expected to flood at record-breaking levels as a downpour of rain is forecast to drench the Midwest states on Tuesday and Wednesday.
National Weather Service Little Rock warned that the Arkansas River may experience ‘the worst flooding in recorded history’ as it’s projected to crest on Wednesday at 42.5 feet in Van Buren, breaking the 1945 record of 38.42 feet.
It’ll be devastating for Arkansas and Oklahoma communities that are already underwater.
The Arkansas River has flooded hundreds of homes in Sand Springs, Oklahoma and more are expected to be flooded as more water is released from a dam, according to Tulsa World. City officials expect as many as 500 homes to flood eventually.
In Arkansas the river is above flood stage in Fort Smith and Van Buren as of Tuesday. Crests are expected to be seen from May 31 to June 7.
‘Based on impact statements from previous floods and the newest forecast crests, this will be the worst flooding in recorded history along the Arkansas River from Toad Suck and points northwest,’ the NWS tweeted Sunday.
They predicted levees would be flooded and there would be ‘significant impacts to life and property across a very large area.’
Thanks to already significant rain in the area, the flooding is expected to be ‘prolonged and impacts will remain significant through much of the upcoming summer.’
And the floods will only continue as the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center released a warning of a moderate risk of excessive rainfall, anticipating five to seven inches of rain across the region in states including Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
As of Tuesday, two levees were topped off in the Arkansas River, as per The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.
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