Several rivers remained above flood stage due to a persistent wet pattern through the winter and spring. May rainfall totals cracked the top five in many locations. At Paducah, KY, 11.09 inches of rain fell, shattering the previous May record by over an inch. In Evansville, IN, 9.15 inches of rain fell, making this the fifth wettest May on record. Normally, 13 to 15 inches of rain falls between March and May. In 2019, however, between 15 and 20 inches of rain was common with some areas receiving between 20 and 25 inches. Paducah experienced its 5th wettest spring on record, with 23.34 inches of rain. Heavy rain was commonplace across most of the Midwest and upper Mississippi Valley, prompting widespread and long lasting flooding throughout the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois River basins.

Flood in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 14-MAY-19 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CARMI MUNI ARPT
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding of the Little Wabash River that began in mid April ended in mid May. Low-lying cropland was flooded, along with some rural county roads.

Flood in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 12-MAY-19 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAUNIE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding of the Wabash River that began in late April ended in mid May. Low-lying woods and fields near the river were inundated, along with a few county roads.

Flood in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOUND CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding of the Ohio River continued through the month of May. Much of the flooding was due to backwater from the swollen Mississippi River. Considerable flooding of low-lying woods, fields, and parks persisted. Typically, this scale of flooding has a large impact on farming in the flood plain. Due to the lack of planted crops during this extended flood, there was little in the way of direct crop losses.

Flood in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 09-MAY-19 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHAWNEETOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Ohio River fell back below flood stage early in the month at Shawneetown. The flooding there was generally minor, causing the delay of crop planting in the flood plain.

Flood in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT CARBON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Lower portions of the Big Muddy River remained above flood stage from mid-March through the remainder of the spring. The flooding was partially due to backwater from the swollen Mississippi River. The highest crest during May was 31.01 feet on the 8th. This crest falls into the moderate flood category. Low-lying woods and fields near the river were flooded, along with sections of a riverfront park. A few streets near the river were flooded.

Flood in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 10-MAY-19 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLUMFIELD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

After rising above flood stage in late April, minor flooding ended on upper portions of the Big Muddy River by mid May. Low-lying woods and fields were inundated, along with a few rural county roads.

Flood in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 28-MAY-19 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT CARMEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding of the Wabash River that began in late April temporarily ended in late May. Fields and woodlands in the flood plain were inundated. Some county river roads were flooded. Access to river hunting cabins was blocked. A flood gate was installed at Mount Carmel.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAIRO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Ohio River rose above flood stage at Cairo on February 8 and remained above flood stage through the remainder of the spring. This was the most prolonged flood on the Ohio River at Cairo, IL since records began in the late 1800's. The highest recorded stage in the month of May (2019) was 50.53 feet, which corresponds to the moderate flood category. At this stage, the flooding has a major impact on farming operations in the flood plain, causing some farmers to lose crops. In this prolonged flood, farmers never really had the chance to plant in the flood plain. Flooding of riverside parks and recreational facilities occurred. A few side roads near the river were flooded. Due to the extended duration of the flooding, levees began to show signs of stress. There was concern about the stability of the levees, and seepage became a problem. Some roads nearest the levees began to buckle.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: THEBES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

After rising above flood stage in mid-March, the Mississippi River remained above flood stage through the remainder of the spring. At the Thebes river gage, the river crested at 41.83 feet on May 8. However, the river started rising again late in the month. The May crest fell just a little shy of the major flooding category, which starts at 42 feet.  A sewage plant at Thebes was inundated with flood water and was shut down, causing the community to be without sewage services. The Thebes Landing area of town was flooded. There was considerable flooding of low-lying farmland and woods. Some county roads were inundated. Since crop planting was not possible in areas that had been flooded all spring, direct crop losses were not high. Due to the extended duration of the flooding, levees began to show signs of stress. There was concern about the stability of the levees, and seepage became a problem. Some roads nearest the levees began to buckle.

Flood in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAND TOWER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Mississippi River remained above flood stage through the month of May. There was considerable flooding of low-lying farmland and woods. Some county roads were inundated. Due to the extended duration of the flooding, levees began to show signs of stress. There was concern about the stability of the levees, and seepage became a problem. Some roads nearest the levees began to buckle.

Flood in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAY-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAY-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: WARE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

The Mississippi River remained above flood stage through the month of May. There was considerable flooding of low-lying farmland and woods. Some county roads were inundated. Due to the extended duration of the flooding, levees began to show signs of stress. There was concern about the stability of the levees, and seepage became a problem. Some roads nearest the levees began to buckle.