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Visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for access to new EXPERIMENTAL products and services from the National Water Center: National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook and the National Water Center Visualization Services, a suite of geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model information.

View the Enhanced Operating Capability Products and Services StoryMap here

Weather Forecast Office St. Louis, MO

North Central River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Tabular Data (UTC)

Tabular Data (CDT)

Datum: NGVD29

Metadata

NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

NOTE: For the latest navigation status update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District, click here.

NOTE: Forecasts for the Mississippi River at Chester are issued routinely year-round.

Vertical Datum updated from NGVD29 to NAVD88 by gauge owner.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet)

Major Flood Stage:	40
Moderate Flood Stage:	35
Flood Stage:	27
Action Stage:	25
Low Stage (in feet):	-9999

Historic Crests
(1) 49.74 ft on 08/07/1993
(2) 46.52 ft on 06/10/2019
(3) 45.99 ft on 01/02/2016
(4) 44.66 ft on 05/06/2017
(5) 44.00 ft on 05/23/1995
(6) 43.32 ft on 04/30/1973
(7) 42.41 ft on 06/05/2013
(8) 41.02 ft on 05/05/1983
(9) 40.58 ft on 05/17/2002
(10) 39.83 ft on 06/30/1844
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 31.04 ft on 07/02/2021 (P)
(2) 30.76 ft on 04/14/2021 (P)
(3) 33.88 ft on 03/21/2021 (P)
(4) 33.46 ft on 06/02/2020
(5) 31.71 ft on 04/20/2020
(6) 33.32 ft on 03/25/2020
(7) 27.06 ft on 03/15/2020
(8) 33.07 ft on 01/14/2020
(9) 29.33 ft on 11/03/2019
(10) 33.04 ft on 10/13/2019
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) -4.30 ft on 01/02/1964
(2) -4.20 ft on 12/20/1963
(3) -4.00 ft on 01/03/1900
(4) -3.71 ft on 12/27/1989
(5) -2.60 ft on 01/04/1940
Show More Low Water Records

For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov.

Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers

Zoom Level:14

	Gauge Location	Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
53	Near this height, the Ste. Genevieve County levee #3 is overtopped.
51	The Health Care Unit of the Menard Correctional Center begins flooding near this height. Also at this height, the Grand Tower levee is overtopped. This levee protects 14,800 acres.
50	Ste. Genevieve, Ft. Chartres, Ivy Landing, and Kaskaskia Island levees overtopped.
49.5	Near this height, the Bois Brule, Degognia, and Fountain Bluff levees are overtopped. The Bois Brule levee protects 26,060 acres. The Degognia and Fountain Bluff levees protect 36,200 acres.
49.4	Stringtown and Prairie DuRocher levees overtopped.
49	Degognia and Fountain Bluff Levee overtopped.
47.5	The Con Agra Foods Mill in Grafton begins flooding near this height.
45.5	Near this height, Missouri Route H will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to Route M.
45.1	Near this height, Missouri Route M is closed in both directions at River Aux Vases.
45	At this height, the Chester waterworks pumphouse floods.
44	At this height, Missouri State Highway 51 is closed from Perry County Road 944 and the Illinois State Line at the bridge into Chester.
42.4	Near this height, Missouri Route H is closed between Route M and Missouri Highway 51.
42.3	Near this height, Missouri State Route U will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to the Illinois State line at the Kaskaskia Island bridge.
42	Four cottage units at the Menard Correctional Center begin flooding near this height.
41.1	Near this height, Missouri Route V southeast of Bloomsdale is closed between Highway 61 and North White Sands Road.
40.79	Main Street in Evansville inundated.
40	A hunting lodge near the mouth of the Kaskaskia River begins flooding.
39	Railroad tracks in St. Mary, Missouri begin flooding.
38.7	Illinois State Highway 155 at Prairie du Rocher begins flooding near this height.
38.5	Illinois Route 3 at Rockwood and Missouri Highway J just west of Highway 61 between Ste. Genevieve and St. Marys begin flooding near this height.
38.4	At this level IL Route 3 at levee east of Cora inundated.
38.1	Near this level, Illinois Route 3 near the Mary's River bridge is closed.
37.7	Near this height, Route J is closed in both directions at U.S. Highway 61.
37.6	At this height, Missouri Route M between Route H and Perry County Road 924 is closed.
37.5	The southbound lane on Kaskaskia Street and the south parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
37.2	Near this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed between Ste. Genevieve and Route J.
37	Union Pacific property along Water Street begins to flood.
36.9	Near this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed from Route J to St. Mary.
36.5	Chester water intake house is flooded... damage begins to occur to 4 homes and administration buildings at Menard State Prison. Prairie DuRocher pump station damaged and road to Kaskaskia Lock inundated.
36	Chester water works pumphouse is threatened by flood waters. Highway 61 is closed at the bend at St. Marys and a detour is set up through town. Near this height, St. Genevieve County levee #2 is overtopped. This levee protects 7000 acres.
35.2	In Perry County, Highway C is closed between County Roads 352 and 354 (the Levee Road) near Menfro.
35	Ste. Genevieve flood gates are closed at this level.
34.79	Kaskaskia Street near the Menard Prison begins flooding near this height.
34.7	The north parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
33.5	Water Street in Chester begins flooding.
33	Within a foot of this height, Highway A is closed between County Roads 448 and 460 at Wittenberg in southern Perry County.
32.5	The Road at Fort Gage Farm begins flooding at Menard Correctional Center.
31.5	In Perry County, Highway E is closed between County Road 322 and Levee Road (County Road 354) at Bois Brule Creek.
28	Unleveed islands near Chester and the prison farm floods.
27	Flood Stage. Unprotected farmland on right bank begins to flood.
25	Degognia Fountain Bluff Levee gates are closed.
Photos (1) Farm shed along U.S. Hwy 61 south of Ste. Genevieve on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (2) Farm property along U.S. Hwy 61 south of St. Genevieve on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (3) Flooded railroad tracks in St. Mary, Missouri on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (4) Railroad tracks south of Ste. Genevieve on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (5) Flooded cropland along U.S. Hwy 61 north of St. Mary, Missouri on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft (6) South Kings Highway on Kaskaskia Island on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (7) Driving onto Kaskaskia Island on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 feet. (8) Branch Street and Kaskaskia Street in Chester on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 feet. (9) U.S. Highway 61 in St. Mary, Missouri on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 feet. (10) Kings Highway on Kaskaskia Island on July 1, 2008 at a stage of 39.4 ft. (11) Illinois Rte 3 bridge at Rockwood on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.2 ft., 2.3 ft below road surface (12) Kaskaskia Road at Menard Correctional Center on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.2 ft. (13) Highway 61 at St. Mary, Missouri on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.1 ft. (14) State Highway C at County Road 351 on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.1 ft. (15) Water Street in Chester on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.15 ft. (16) Water Street near Mill Street in Chester on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.2 ft. (17) State Highway E near Cinque Hommes Creek on June 28, 2010 at a stage of 36.1 ft. (18) Lower section staff gage looking upstream (19) Upper sectional staff gage (20) Looking upstream at the Highway 51/150 bridge (21) Looking downstream from staff gage

About This Location

Latitude: 37.900742° N, Longitude: 89.830211° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage Reference Frame	Gauge Height	Flood Stage	Uses
NWS stage	0 ft	27 ft	Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum	Elevation (gauge height = 0)	Elevation (gauge height = flood stage)	Elevation information source
NAVD88	340.72 ft	367.72 ft	Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29	341.05 ft	368.05 ft	Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL	Not Available	Not Available	Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other	Not Available	Not Available

Current/Historical Observations:

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Chester

Additional Information

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Collaborative Agencies

The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.

NWS Information

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St. Charles, MO 63304
(636) 441-8467
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM

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