Another day, another forecast change for the Mississippi River at Vicksburg.

Friday afternoon, the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center once again jacked up the crest by a half foot and pushed it back yet another week. The Slidell, La.-based forecast center is now calling for the river to crest at 43.5 feet on Thursday, June 3. Friday’s revision was the third in as many days. Thursday’s forecast had the river cresting at flood stage of 43 feet on Thursday, May 27.

“They drastically increased the flow out of the Arkansas River, which boosted the crest about a half foot for everywhere south of Arkansas City,” explained LMRFC Hydrologist Amanda Roberts.

Even at 43.5 feet, the river’s effects should be minimal in the city and county. A few low-lying residences in repetitive flood plains along Chickasaw, Long Lake and Thompson Lake roads — all of which are closed — could take on water. Nearby Kings Point Ferry is closed. No city roads have been shuttered yet.

The prolonged crest date will certainly have an effect on residents who live and farm in the levee-locked, 4,093-square mile area north of Vicksburg known as the Yazoo Backwater Area — where the gates of the lone drainage structure, Steele Bayou, have been closed since May 6.

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MISSISSIPPI

RIVER

Friday night: 42.7 feet

12-hour change: none

Forecast crest: 43.5 feet; Thursday, June 3

Flood stage: 43 feet

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Steele Bayou was holding more than 6 feet of water out of the backwater area as of Friday, with the riverside water stage measuring 90.5 feet and the landside 84.3 feet. With normal rainfall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects the water stage to reach about 88 feet in the backwater area. Low-lying crops begin to go under-water at 86 feet.

The gates of Steele Bayou cannot be reopened until the riverside water stage subsides below the water level inside the backwater area. The Corps had hoped to open the gates in the first week of June, but the crest revisions have in all likelihood pushed that date back by at least a week, said Corps Water Control Division Technician Waylon Hill.