4/4/08: Vicksburg Flooding near 1973 Level! (Jackson, Yazoo City: homes, tornado, live in)

[delusianne]

This is from the Vicksburg Post, 4/4/08:

"The Mississippi will rise a foot higher and the flooding will continue longer, today's measurements by the National Weather Service indicate.

"A crest of 49 feet on April 13 comes as grim news to those who have been watching the water lap at roadsides and foundations. At the higher reading, more roads, homes and farmland will go under.

"The new prediction is only 2.6 feet below 1973 flooding, which was the worst since 1927."

Any Vicksburgians out there with a report?

Hope this wont cause much damage - love that crumbling town

[Delta Planter]

I'm not in Vicksburg, but my niece and nephew have a cabin up on Eagle Lake, just north of Vicksburg. Emailing with her tonight, she says the lake itself has not been affected by the river, yet. Her husband is at the cabin now, and MS 465 from Highway 61 is definitely closed, only way in/out is via the levee to the north. And her husband also indicated some pretty hefty damage in V'burg, itself.

FYI, here's a site that gives the flood stages and conditions along the lower MS River from north of Memphis to the Gulf. Interesting. Lower Ohio, Lower Mississippi, and Lower Arkansas Rivers (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/forecast/tributaries/status_miss.shtml - broken link)

I remember the flood of '73. Quite scary as I drove up 49E out of Yazoo City to see the water in the fields.

[delusianne]

They were hit again 4/5/08 - according to the Vicksburg Post 10,000 lost electricity, winds reached 80 mph (75 mph winds were recorded on Aug. 29, 2005, the day Katrina hit the coast), and another 1.35 inches of rain fell.

A tornado reportedly hit "near downtown Vburg" - maybe the 80 mph winds reported are related to this.

I see Haley Barbour just declared some counties along the MS and Yazoo rivers disaster areas.

That NWS flood stage map is useful, Delta Planter, thanks. I see it's clickable, too!

Hope your family remain dry, DP. And you too, if you're out that way.

[rocketx]

I can tell you first hand that I saw the strong straight line winds and it got dark real quick. One of my friends definely saw a twister in the parking lot of Soon Koon restraunt.
As of the rising river, the barge traffic has been hitting the old river bridge in more frequency. With the Ms River rising I can tell you from what I heard on Supertalk radio out of Jackson and I heard "a major flood for Vicksburg." The interviewer wasn't fooling around.

[delusianne]

There's a nice map here from the Vicksburg Post showing the areas expected to flood if the water rises above 50.5 ft. at Vicksburg. The city of Vburg appears safe but north and east looks rather damp.
Crest forecast soars to 50.5 on April 18

[marmac]

I live in Minnesota and saw the flooding of parts of Vicksburg on TV last night.

My sympathy to those affected.

[Delta Planter]

Have you seen the articles about the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway? Interesting. Here's a couple of spots:

Beyond Katrina : Statement from Corp of Engineers - Bonne Carre Spillway Opening

2theadvocate.com | News | Bonnet Carré opened — Baton Rouge, LA

[rocketx]

Floodstage is now 50ft and it has been revised to 51ft for saturday

[Delta Planter]

It's been a while, now, what's the latest on the flooding along the river from say, Helena, AR, south to Vicksburg? Anyone got pics?

[Delta Planter]

Originally Posted by Delta Planter

It's been a while, now, what's the latest on the flooding along the river from say, Helena, AR, south to Vicksburg? Anyone got pics?

Well, judging from the replies, I guess there's nothing more to be written at this juncture. Wonder what will happen come May, when the real flood season is in full bore?