Peak snowmelt runoff is progressing southward down the Missouri and upper Mississippi Rivers. The snowmelt crest is expected to reach Chester, Illinois, on the upper Mississippi towards the end of April. The current rise on the upper Mississippi below Chester, Illinois, is due to runoff from recent rainfall. The snowmelt crest expected later this month should reach levels similiar to those of the current rise. The cold front is expected to stall and slowly become east-west oriented across north central Mississippi and northern Louisiana.
Heavy rainfall is possible anywhere along the stationary front.
Soil moisture contents remain above seasonal averages in the areas likely to be affected by the forecasted frontal position. At this time, no flooding is occurring or forecasted to occur along the lower Mississippi and lower Ohio Rivers, or within the Tennessee Valley. Only very minor flooding remains along portions of the lower Atchafalaya River. The major flooding that had occurred during the month of March along the lower Red River Basin has abated and flows have returned to below bankfull levels. Minor to moderate flooding is occurring along the lower Big Black River in Mississippi with minor flooding occurring at some locations in the Pearl Basin.