World and Nation

Record flooding continues

4029 weather
Situation for Noon Eastern Time, Tuesday, May 10, 2011

With the warming weather, melting snow has combined with spring rain to raise river levels well beyond flood stage throughout the nation. The hardest-hit areas lie along the Mississippi River from Illinois to Louisiana. In Memphis, the Mississippi has risen to 47.8 feet — just shy of the 48.7 feet record set in 1937.

In all, 22 locations across eight states have seen record flood levels. Closer to home, Burlington, Vt., has set a record for the water level of Lake Champlain.

Don’t expect the Charles to overrun its banks, as Massachusetts has seen a very typical amount of precipitation this past month. Furthermore, no significant precipitation is expected over the next couple of days.

Even though there will be little rain, the weather will be cool, cloudy, and breezy the next few days as a low pressure system churns well offshore New England.