A series of heavy rainfall events in April, followed by another heavy rainfall event in early May, kept many rivers above flood stage for all or most of the month. Some of the river flooding was major. Rainfall totals from April 28-30 ranged from 6 to 10 inches across much of southern Illinois, from Anna and Du Quoin eastward to the Wabash Valley.

Flood in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 21-MAY-17 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOLF LAKE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding occurred along the Mississippi River early in the month. There was extensive flooding of low-lying agricultural land, as well as county roads in the flood plain.

Flood in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 21-MAY-17 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BROOKPORT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

An extended period of minor flooding occurred on the Ohio River. Portions of Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis were flooded, closing the main road through the park. Low-lying woods were flooded, along with a few side roads.

Flood in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 02-MAY-17 06:00:00 to 20-MAY-17 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHAWNEETOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding occurred along the Ohio River. Some low-lying fields and bottomlands were inundated.

Flood in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 23-MAY-17 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: OLMSTED
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

An extended period of moderate flooding occurred on the Ohio River. At the Grand Chain river gage, the river crested at 51.2 feet on May 11. Major flooding begins at 53 feet. Low-lying cropland and a nature preserve were flooded, along with some side roads.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAIRO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

An extended period of moderate flooding occurred on the Ohio River. The river was above flood stage for the entire month. At the Cairo river gage, the river crested at 52.15 feet on May 8. Major flooding starts at 53 feet. There was considerable flooding of low-lying areas near the river, including parks and farmland. Most main roads remained open, although water approached Illinois Route 3.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-17 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: THEBES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding occurred along the Mississippi River early in the month. At the Thebes river gage, the river crested at 43.18 feet on the 6th. Flood stage is 33 feet. The river remained above flood stage for the entire month. There was extensive flooding of low-lying agricultural land, riverside parks, and river access roads. Residents of small communities such as Thebes and Gale were forced to evacuate or use boats to access their homes. Most roads leading to riverfront property were cut off by floodwaters. Some basements were flooded. The U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic to protect the integrity of levees, especially the Len Small Levee. This levee was broken during the record 2016 flood. Backwater flooding along tributary creeks affected many areas, including the inland community of McClure. Flooded streets in McClure impacted several families, who needed a boat to safely reach their homes.

Flood in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 17-MAY-17 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ZEIGLER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 70.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Plumfield river gage, the river crested at 28.60 feet on the 2nd. Flood stage is 20 feet. Several houses were evacuated, including two houses between Plumfield and Buckner. A number of roads were closed. State Highway 148 at the Big Muddy River bridge south of Zeigler was reduced to one lane. There was considerable flooding of bottomlands and surrounding low-lying areas. Franklin County government officials declared a state of disaster for the entire county. The American Red Cross opened shelters for flood victims.

Flood in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 28-MAY-17 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOHNS SPUR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major to historic flooding occurred on the Big Muddy River. At the Murphysboro river gage, the river crested about two feet below the record of 40.47 feet, which was set in the spring of 2011. The crest of 38.56 feet was recorded on the evening of the 5th. Flood stage is 22 feet. Residents of a mobile home park were asked to voluntarily evacuate. A few residences in Murphysboro were flooded. A church on Route 127 was flooded. Sandbagging was done around some affected structures. Extensive flooding of low-lying fields occurred. A city street intersection in Murphysboro was closed. Floodwater covered the ground below an electrical substation.

Flood in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 22-MAY-17 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND TOWER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

There was major flooding along the Mississippi River early in the month. Extensive flooding of low-lying agricultural land and county roads in the flood plain was observed.

Flood in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 20-MAY-17 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PANKEYVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

The middle fork of the Saline River remained flooded for much of the month. An elderly man drowned after driving around barricades to a bridge over the river. The man's truck was washed off the road in the area of the bridge. The incident occurred on a county road southeast of Harrisburg.

Flood in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 26-MAY-17 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CENTERVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 30.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major to historic flooding occurred on the Little Wabash River. At the Carmi river gage, the river crested at 36.01 feet on the 8th. Flood stage is 27 feet. This crest of 36 feet was less than 2.5 feet below the flood crest in the spring of 2011. A few families in the Carmi area were displaced by flooding. Illinois Route 1 in Carmi was closed. Several streets in East Carmi and many rural roads were closed by flooding. Extensive flooding of farmlands and fields occurred. Some oil wells were shut down by flooding.

Flood in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-17 00:00:00 to 05-MAY-17 05:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WAYNE CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 20.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding occurred on the Skillet Fork River. At the Wayne City river gage, the river crested at 22.81 feet early on the 1st. Flood stage is 15 feet. This crest was within a couple inches of the April, 2011 flood crest. At least one home was sandbagged east of Route 45 in the Mill Shoals area. There was widespread flooding of lowlands, including county roads and bridges.

Flood in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 02-MAY-17 08:00:00 to 20-MAY-17 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT CARMEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 30.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding occurred on the Wabash River. At the Mt. Carmel river gage, the river crested at 30.62 feet on the 10th. Flood stage is 19 feet. Extensive flooding occurred on the northern outskirts of Mount Carmel. Numerous local river roads were flooded. In the City of Mt. Carmel, all local roads were flooded east of the levee except for one. Old Illinois 1 north of Mt. Carmel began to flood. Some residents along a street in the Mt. Carmel area and in the Keensburg area were forced to relocate. Over 100 acres of Beall Woods State Park were flooded.

Flood in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 02-MAY-17 03:30:00 to 21-MAY-17 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RISING SUN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 30.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding occurred along the Wabash River. At the river gage at New Harmony, IN, the river crested at 21.68 feet on the 12th. Flood stage is 15 feet. Low farmland was flooded almost to the eastern edge of Phillipstown. Several county roads were flooded.