Mississippi Closed Near St. Louis

Storm total rainfall that reached as much as six to nine inches from St. Louis to east central Illinois will continue to produce flooding for a lengthy period of time over much of southern and central Illinois.

The Coast Guard has closed a five-mile section of the Mississippi River near St. Louis, to all vessel traffic as rising river levels created "hazardous conditions". The river was closed roughly from Madison County to the north to St. Louis to the south.

The National Weather Service says some major rivers will flood for many days, while smaller rivers and other areal flooding will diminish over the next few days. Weather Service river forecasts call for flood crests to tie or exceed levels reached during the Great Flood of 1993.

Chester in Randolph County is expected to hit 49.9 feet by Friday morning. The old record is 49.7 feet.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri is expected to tie its 1993 record of 48.5 feet by Friday morning.