A forecast of rain and a flood advisory issued for Mississippi River counties from Bolivar to Wilkinson is not expected to affect the river to a point of concern, a top hydrologist said.

The Mississippi River at Vicksburg was 38.3 feet this morning and is forecast to crest at 38.7 feet Monday, 4.3 feet below flood stage. Three-quarters of an inch to an inch of rain expected in the city over the next five days looks “pretty good” overall and, if anything, will keep the river stage nearly level before it falls, said Marty Pope, senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson.

“It’s not a big deal,” Pope said. “It may just keep it at the levels we have (for Monday) right now.”

Kings and Ford subdivisions west of North Washington Street in north Vicksburg were damaged heavily by last spring’s historic flood. Historically, the area’s lowest-lying roads take on water only when the river hits its 43-foot flood stage.

Mayor Paul Winfield said the city is “watching the river and waiting.”

“We’re not doing anything yet, but if we feel there is an imminent threat to lives and safety, we will take steps to protect the city and to educate the people about what may happen,” he said. “We’re keeping a watchful eye.”

Chances for rain overall were 80 percent tonight and 70 percent Friday. Today’s high temperature of 71 degrees will drop to 61 Friday afternoon, then to 39 degrees by Friday night.

On May 19, the river crested 14.1 feet above flood stage, at 57.1 feet, topping the 1927 mark by nearly a foot. Stages were above the 43-foot flood mark for 46 days. A new high mark was also set at Natchez, where the river crested the same day at 61.9 feet. Peak daily flows topped 1927 levels at Vicksburg — where more than 2.2 million cubic feet of water was measured — and at Arkansas City, Greenville and Natchez.