An extraordinary flood took place on the Mississippi River in June, resulting from two major rainfall events in Wisconsin and Iowa. The Wisconsin flooding resulted from two separate events, totaling more than 10 inches of rain over most of the southern third of the state. This resulted in record flooding for more than half of the forecast points across southeastern Wisconsin. In Iowa, two separate rain events generated record flooding at a dozen forecast points along the Cedar, Iowa, Wapsipinicon, and Mississippi Rivers. As the floodwaters moved south, the Mississippi River produced near-record flooding from Canton, MO to Clarksville, MO with major flooding also reported at Grafton, IL and Chester, IL. The high backwater on adjacent tributaries resulted in significant flooding along the North River at Palmyra, MO, the Cuivre River at Old Monroe, MO, the Illinois River at LaGrange, Meredosia, Valley City, and Hardin, IL, and the Meramec River at Arnold, MO. The Missouri River also experienced flooding at all points in the service area, with moderate flood crests reported at Jefferson City and Hermann, MO. Many roads across the flooded areas had to be closed for a couple of weeks. Several bridges across the Mississippi River were also affected. The older bridge across the Mississippi at Quincy, IL had to be closed as the flood water covered Highway 24 on the Missouri side. The Highway 54 bridge at Louisiana was closed due to flooding on the Illinois side.

Flood in STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI
From 04-JUN-08 08:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRICKEYS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 3.80M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River crested at 39.46 feet at Chester, Illinois (across the river from Ste. Genevieve County) on 7/01/2008. This is the tenth highest crest ever recorded. Even though it was the tenth highest flood of record, damage was minimal. Some county roads near the river were closed and farm land in the river bottoms were flooded. Agricultural losses in the County were estimated at $3.8 million.

Flood in ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
From 05-JUN-08 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: MATTESE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Moderate flooding occurred at the mouth of the Meramec River in southern St. Louis County due to the flooding on the Mississippi River. Damage was minimal and primarily restricted to parkland in the area.

Flood in LINCOLN, MISSOURI
From 04-JUN-08 13:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: DAMERON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.60M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Lincoln County was the area most affected by the Mississippi River flood of 2008. At Winfield, the river crested at 37.08 feet on 6/27/2008. This is the second highest crest ever recorded. All of the land east of Highway 79 was flooded. At the height of the flood, Highway 79 also went underwater near Old Monroe, Winfield, Foley, and Elsberry. Almost all of Foley went underwater. The southeast part of Winfield, about 100 homes, flooded when the Pin Oak levee failed. In Old Monroe, the waste water treatment plant was flooded by water from the Cuivre River, which was back water from the flooded Mississippi. According to damage assessments made by local emergency management officials, 814 homes were affected. 742 were destroyed, 36 suffered major damage, and 36 were affected. Damage to public infrastructure was estimated at $1,600,000.

Flood in RALLS, MISSOURI
From 03-JUN-08 17:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ILASCO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 55.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River at Saverton, MO crested at 27.97 feet on 6/18/2008. This is the second highest crest ever recorded. Ten homes in the Saverton area were flooded. The lock and dam at Saverton was over topped by the river. Highway 79 was closed at a couple of locations. There were no other towns affected as the rest of the county along the river is open flood plain. The County estimated public infrastructure damage at $55,000. No agricultural losses were reported.

Flood in PIKE, MISSOURI
From 03-JUN-08 15:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOPE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 285.00K
Crop damage: 11.20M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River at Louisiana crested at 26.96 feet on 6/23/2008. This is the third highest crest ever recorded. The Highway 54 bridge had to be closed due to flooding on the Illinois side. Highway 79 was also closed in town. Eighteen homes and eight businesses were flooded but many others were saved by sand bagging efforts. A boil order was in effect for a while due to a water main break. The Mississippi River at Clarksville crested at 36.70 feet on 6/24/2008. This is the third highest crest ever recorded. A huge sand bagging effort saved much of the downtown area, but 10 homes were still flooded. Fifteen homes lost water service due to a water line break. Damage to public infrastructure was estimated at $285,000. The Farm Service Agency estimated agricultural losses in the County to be about $11.2 million.

Flood in MARION, MISSOURI
From 03-JUN-08 10:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 7.10M
Crop damage: 13.30M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River at Hannibal, MO crested at 29.54 feet on 6/18/2008. This is the second highest crest ever recorded. The City of Hannibal escaped relatively unscathed as the flood wall and most levees north and south of town held due to work by the National Guard and volunteers. Plastic and sandbags were used to raise and cover about 60% of the levees in the County. The Mark Bottoms levee was over topped resulting in 19 homes being flooded. Highway 79 in the south part of Hannibal was closed. No other towns in the county were affected as the remainder of the land along the river is used for agriculture or conservation purposes. County Extension Service personnel estimated agricultural losses at $13.3 million. Emergency management personnel reported $7.1 million in infrastructure damages.

Flood in LEWIS, MISSOURI
From 04-JUN-08 23:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FENWAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 940.00K
Crop damage: 8.90M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River at Canton, MO crested at 27.73 feet on 6/18. This is the second highest crest ever recorded. A major sandbagging effort by the residents, the Missouri National Guard, and volunteers saved much of the town from flooding. Levee breaks upstream on the Illinois side also helped lower the crest, as initially, a record crest was expected. Further south, the town of LaGrange was not as lucky. At least 30 homes and 12 business were flooded. Damage to public infrastructure was estimated at $940,000. Agricultural damage was estimated at $8.9 million.

Flood in ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI
From 04-JUN-08 13:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ST PAUL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.70M
Crop damage: 10.80M
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The Mississippi River at Grafton, IL (just across the river from St. Charles County) crested at 30.80 feet on 6/29/2008. This is the fourth highest crest ever recorded. At Alton, IL (also just across the river from St. Charles County) the river crested at 33.08 feet. This is the seventh highest crest ever recorded. The majority of the land flooded is used for agriculture, however several communities in the flood plain suffered damages. Among those are Portage des Sioux, Karmill Wood, Lake Shore, Sherwood Harbor, Alta Villa, and unincorporated areas north of St Peters, MO where an agricultural levee failed. Damage assessments form the State Emergency Management Agency showed 426 homes affected. 257 were listed as destroyed, 66 had major damage, 73 minor, and 30 as affected. Damage to local infrastructure was listed by emergency management officials at $1,670,000. Area wildlife was also affected by the flooding. At one point, local police had to stop traffic on Highway 370 to allow herds of deer to cross the road. The St. Charles Farm Service Agency estimated agricultural losses to be $10.8 million.

Flood in JEFFERSON, MISSOURI
From 05-JUN-08 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WICKES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Moderate flooding occurred on the Mississippi River in Jefferson County. Damage was minimal as no homes or businesses reported losses. Some flooding did occur in Kimmswick, Pevely, and Crystal City. Highway 61 was closed at a couple of places. Flooding also occurred on the Meramec River near its mouth at the Mississippi Rive due to backwater. The Meramec River at Arnold reached 35.34 feet on 6/30/2008, with the crest just a bit higher on 7/1/2008. Flooding was restricted to parks along the river and other unused lowland areas.

Flood in ST. LOUIS (C), MISSOURI
From 05-JUN-08 07:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: BADEN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Moderate flooding occurred on the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The river reached 38.64 feet on 6/30/2008, with the crest occurring on 7/1/2008. Overall damage was minimal. The President's Casino on the St. Louis Riverfront has to be closed due to the flooding. Access to the riverfront in front of the Gateway Arch was closed as the water crept up the lower Arch steps.