Moderate to major river flooding during the month of February ended or greatly subsided in March. After a wet January and February, the active weather pattern became quieter in March. The winter of 2018-19 ended up being the fourth wettest winter on record at Paducah, Kentucky, where records go back to 1937. February was the second wettest February on record at Paducah.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-19 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAIRO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from February into March. At the Cairo river gage, the river crested at 56.51 feet on the 1st. This was just a few inches above the crest of 56.2 feet in the flood of March, 1997. This flood crest was tied with the flood of April, 1975 for the second highest crest since the Flood of 1937. The flood of Spring, 2011 remains the highest crest since 1937. Flood stage at Cairo is 40 feet. U.S. Highway 60/62 was closed at the Ohio River bridge to Kentucky. This road serves as a primary link between Kentucky and Illinois. A detour of about 80 miles was required for commuters in the area. The governor of Illinois surveyed the flooded part of the county. There was extensive flooding of low-lying woods, fields, and parks. The impacts were very similar to the March, 1997 flood. Most of the flood gates were installed at Cairo. Areas not protected by the levee and floodwall system were inundated. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed a high-capacity pump near Urbandale to remove water from heavy rainfall on the protected side of the levee. Since the crop season was not underway, agricultural losses were insignificant.

Flood in HARDIN, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 22-MAR-19 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSICLARE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding of the Ohio River continued from February into March. A portion of Illinois Route 1 was closed. There was considerable flooding of low-lying woods and fields. Rural county roads were flooded. A campground at Saline Landing was flooded, and Front Street was flooded in Elizabethtown. There was sandbagging around a few homes in Elizabethtown and Cave-In-Rock. At Rosiclare, Illinois Route 146 was closed leading into town, and water was up along a floodgate. The town of Rosiclare put up the first floodgates in the lowest sections of town. However, little or no property damage occurred in Hardin County. Total property damage estimates can be found in the February report. The ferry from Cave-In-Rock to the Kentucky shore suspended operations due to high water.

Flood in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-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

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from February into March. There was extensive flooding of low-lying woods, fields, and parks. The impacts were very similar to the March, 1997 flood. The river crested just a few inches above the flood crest of March, 1997 at the Cairo river gage. The exact crest at Cairo was 56.51 feet on the 1st. Areas not protected by levees were inundated. Since the crop season was not underway, agricultural losses were insignificant. Total property damage estimates can be found in the February report.

Flood in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 23-MAR-19 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: JOPPA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

A prolonged major river flood that began in February gradually subsided in March. The flood affected at least 50 homes in Metropolis. The flood crest of 53.27 feet on the Paducah river gage occurred in February. This was tied with the 1950 flood for the second worst flood since the Flood of 1937. More details on the flood crest and on the total property damage estimates can be found in the February report. Metropolis is not protected by a levee or flood wall, so river floodwater impacted the city directly. Heavy rainfall events combined with backwater from the Ohio River caused widespread flooding along the eastern limits of Metropolis. Numerous roads were closed around the county. In the city of Metropolis, portions of 27 city streets were closed. The governor of Illinois toured the flooded area. The riverboat casino in Metropolis was closed for an extended period of time. Outside the Metropolis city limits, 17 to 20 additional homes were affected in the county. About six of those homes were flooded.  The Red Cross opened a shelter in Brookport. Floodgates were installed around Brookport, blocking access to the city from the east.

Flood in POPE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 24-MAR-19 10:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: GOLCONDA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding of the Ohio River continued from February into March. At the Golconda gage, the river crested at 51.51 feet on February 25. More details on the flood crest and the property damage estimate can be found in the February report. There was considerable flooding of low-lying woods and fields. A few residences in the lowest areas near the river were impacted. Rural Pope County roads were flooded around Brownfield and Hamletsburg.

Flood in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 21-MAR-19 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHAWNEETOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding of the Ohio River continued from February into March. At the Shawneetown river gage, the river crested at 48.96 feet on February 20. More details on the February flood crest and the total property damage estimate can be found in the February report. The community of Old Shawneetown was threatened, but most of this community has been abandoned since the devastating flood of 2011. Very little if any structural flooding was reported in Old Shawneetown. There was considerable flooding of low-lying agricultural land. Numerous county roads were closed. Backwater flooding extended up the Saline River, affecting low ground from Junction to Equality.

Flood in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-19 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: THEBES
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Minor flooding continued from February into early March on the Mississippi River. Low-lying woods and fields not protected by levees were underwater. The Mississippi River rose above flood stage in response to snowmelt and rain in the northern parts of the river basin.

Flood in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 02-MAR-19 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAUNIE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Moderate flooding on the Wabash River in February ended during the first few days of March. At the New Harmony, IN river gage, the river crested at 20.41 feet on Feb. 16th. Considerable flooding of low ground occurred on the Illinois side of the river. Most of the low ground was dormant agricultural fields. Some county roads were flooded.

Flood in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 01-MAR-19 00:00:00 to 01-MAR-19 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: MT CARMEL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

Flooding of the Wabash River ended during the first day of March. Some low-lying woods and fields were underwater.