COLUMBIA — Heavy rainfall overnight in north-central Missouri has led to forecasts that put the Missouri River above flood stage once again.
The National Weather Service reported widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 5 inches, along with 8.48 inches at Linneus in Linn County.
The Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Missouri River at Boonville for minor flooding from late tonight to next Wednesday or until the warning is cancelled. As of 9:45 Wednesday morning, the river was 19.7 feet at Boonville with a forecasted crest of 25.3 feet early Friday morning. Flood stage at that location is 21 feet.
At flood stage, flooding occurs in low-lying rural areas located along the river, according to the Weather Service. At 25 feet, numerous farm levees are overtopped, and flooding of agricultural land and secondary roads occurs.
An unstable weather pattern will continue the next few days through Friday, with the greatest chances of flooding near the Iowa border, according to a hazardous weather outlook issued by the Weather Service. Heavy rainfall is the primary concern with these storms. A threat of more organized thunderstorms is forecasted across the region for Friday night.
Ben Miller, meteorologist for the Weather Service in St. Louis, said warm and humid conditions over the next five to seven days will result in scattered thunderstorms and showers, mainly in the afternoon.