Flooding along parts of the Mississippi River exceeded the Great Flood of 1993. The primary rainfall event that triggered the historic flooding was a swath of 6 to 12 inches across central Missouri from December 26 to 28. The axis of heaviest rainfall extended roughly along Interstate 44 in Missouri, then northeast into central Illinois. The very wet pattern that developed during the second half of December gradually dried out in January. This allowed the Mississippi River to fall below flood stage during the middle part of the month. The duration and seasonal timing of this Mississippi River flood was exceptionally rare. Past historical Mississippi River floods have occurred during the warm season, and their duration was on the scale of months rather than weeks.

Flood in NEW MADRID, MISSOURI
From 01-JAN-16 00:00:00 to 17-JAN-16 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEW MADRID
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding of the Mississippi River continued into January. At the New Madrid river gage, the river crested at 43.05 feet on the 4th. Flood stage there is 34 feet. This flood was similar to the flood of March, 1997, when the river crested at 42.94 feet. There was considerable flooding of cropland unprotected by levees. Numerous county roads were flooded. The National Guard was deployed to a small part of the county for security purposes.

Flood in MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI
From 01-JAN-16 00:00:00 to 17-JAN-16 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BIRDS PT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Mississippi River levels continued their climb from December, and major flooding occurred early in the month. The river gage upriver at Cape Girardeau crested at a new record of 48.86 feet on the 1st. However, the river gage downriver at New Madrid only experienced moderate flooding. Mississippi County is very rural, and most of the developed land is protected by a levee system. Although extensive cropland flooding occurred, very little of it was planted in the middle of winter. County roads outside of the levee system were flooded.

Flood in SCOTT, MISSOURI
From 01-JAN-16 00:00:00 to 16-JAN-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SCOTT CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Mississippi River levels continued their climb from December, and record flooding occurred early in the month. At the Thebes, Illinois river gage, the river crested at a new record of 47.74 feet before dawn on the 2nd. The old record was 45.91 feet, which was set in May of 1995. Records at Thebes go back to at least 1844. The 2016 crest would have been higher if a major levee break had not occurred between Thebes and Cairo, Illinois. Flood stage at Thebes is 33 feet. Thousands of acres of unprotected land outside the levee system were flooded, most of which was cropland. The small community of Commerce, which is not protected by a levee, was severely flooded. Only about nine homes in the community remain occupied following a series of government buyouts. A private agricultural levee was breached just south of Commerce, resulting in the inundation of 5,500 acres of empty cropland. The private levee was located on the river side of a much bigger federal levee that functioned very well.

Flood in PERRY, MISSOURI
From 01-JAN-16 00:00:00 to 16-JAN-16 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALTENBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Mississippi River levels continued their climb from December, and record or near-record flooding occurred early in the month. The river gage downriver at Cape Girardeau  crested at a new record of 48.86 feet on the 1st. However, the river gage upriver at Chester in Randolph County did not break a record. Efforts were made to fortify the Bois Brule Levee to protect area homes and businesses. The National Guard worked around the clock to ensure the security of residents. The Highway 51 bridge to Chester, Illinois was closed. Several roads were closed, including Highway E near Menfro. Most of the other roads were rural county roads. A main railway was closed due to water over the tracks. Barge traffic was restricted on the river due to strong currents.

Flood in CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI
From 01-JAN-16 00:00:00 to 16-JAN-16 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: HINES LNDG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Mississippi River levels continued their climb from December, and record flooding occurred early in the month. At the Cape Girardeau river gage, the river crested at a new record of 48.86 feet on the evening of New Year's Day. The old record was 48.49 feet, which was set in August of 1993. Records at Cape Girardeau go back at least a century. The 2016 crest would likely have been higher if there had not been a levee break in Alexander County, Illinois. Flood stage at Cape Girardeau is 32 feet. The estimated acreage that was flooded was 24,000 acres, of which 17,000 was cropland. Much of the flooded acreage was in the diversion channel floodplain, which extends from Allenville east to Dutchtown and Scott City. Numerous roads were flooded, including Highway 74. Dozens of residences were inaccessible due to flooding. A number of businesses and homes were flooded, including about twenty homes and eight businesses in the city of Cape Girardeau. These homes and businesses were mainly in the Red Star neighborhood of Cape Girardeau and on the south side of the city near Highway 74. Firefighters rescued a man and his dog from one of the homes. A voluntary evacuation advisory was issued for the community of Allenville, which was completely surrounded by water. Flood walls and levees protect most of the city of Cape Girardeau. These structures held up during this record flood. To protect a concrete plant outside the levee system, crews built a 1,200 to 1,500-foot levee in a short period of time.