Mississippi River Crests Not Expected to Cause Flooding

New forecasts show the Mississippi River is unlikely to cause major flooding as it crests during coming weeks in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Readings Monday showed the river is slightly above the 41-foot flood stage at the Tunica River Park in Tunica, Miss., but is still within banks elsewhere in the two states.

Webster Franklin, president and CEO of the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, says high water is having little effect and the park remains open. The park’s museum was gutted by floodwaters in 2011, but Franklin says the river would have to rise 10 more feet before posing a threat.

The Mississippi is forecast to crest May 6 at 44.5 feet at Tunica, just south of Memphis, Tenn.

Crests are supposed to follow downstream through May 16.