Memphis residents should brace for a bit of an environmental nuisance as minor flooding is expected along the Mississippi River affecting areas in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. According to the National Weather Service in Memphis, the river at Memphis is forecast to undergo minor flooding starting Thursday evening, persisting until Wednesday, April 23. The detailed flood warning was persisted in an announcement made Tuesday evening, which pinpoints the immediate precautionary and preparedness actions that locals are advised to take.
As it stands, the waterfront is edging onto new territories, with waters expected to affect the Fullen Dock area. The NWS alert specifies that "In Tennessee, water is edging onto the Fullen Dock area. Roads on the north side of the Loosahatchie River near its mouth are beginning to flood." Such developments invariably lead to disruptions and potentially hazardous conditions, especially since certain marina areas may fall victim to the rising waters. The NWS urges caution, reminding the public that flood deaths most often occur in vehicles and to avoid flooded roads.
The upcoming weather does offer a silver lining of sunny days and clear nights for the region, as seen in the NWS Memphis forecast. The rest of the week promises mostly sunny skies with high temperatures gradually climbing from 69°F to a toasty 81°F by Monday, though this warm-up comes with a caveat as a chance of showers and thunderstorms may interrupt the sunny streak on Thursday and again early next week.
For those living in proximity to the Mississippi River, this is familiar but unwelcome news. The river stage was reported at 30.3 feet on Tuesday night, with projections anticipating a rise beyond the 34.0 feet flood stage by late Thursday evening. "The river is expected to rise above flood stage late Thursday evening to a flat crest of 36.5 feet early next week," states the report from the NWS Memphis. As they prepare for the high waters and the slight disruptions to the otherwise fair weather, Memphians can take solace that the breach won't be severe and that previous experiences have equipped them for the challenges ahead.
