Missouri River rising toward flood stage

Flood watches were posted for a large part of western Missouri on Friday afternoon, and rain that’s already fallen was expected to push the Missouri River above flood stage at Boonville early next week.

Heavy rains in Kansas and northwest Missouri are causing the Missouri River to rise. The National Weather Service on Friday forecast the river at Boonville to reach the flood stage of 21 feet Monday evening. A crest of 24.7 feet was forecast for Tuesday morning.

Mark O’Malley of the Weather Service office in Kansas City said the predicted flood levels pose no imminent threat to life or property, but those living and working near the river should stay vigilant and watch the weather.

“Right now what we’re looking at is not as significant as what we saw three weeks ago,” O’Malley said.