Just In: Highway 79 Between Cody & Marianna May Flood

The National Weather Service has just issued at "River Flood Warning" at 9:12 p.m. stating that the river could get as high as 56.5 feet at Helena on Thursday, May 12, 2011. As of 8:00 p.m. tonight, the river has reach the 55.7 feet level. Flood stage at Helena is 44 feet. Worse, the water levels could cause a closure of Highway 79 between Cody & Marianna.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Memphis, TN
9:12 pm CDT, Sun., May. 8, 2011

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER AT HELENA * UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. * AT 8 PM SUNDAY THE STAGE WAS 55.7 FEET. * MAJOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * MAXIMUM FORECAST STAGE OF 56.5 FEET THURSDAY MAY 12. * FLOOD STAGE IS 44.0 FEET. * THE RIVER IS ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AND WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 56.5 FEET BY THURSDAY MAY 12. THEN... THE RIVER WILL BEGIN FALLING VERY SLOWLY. * AT 51.0 FEET... LOADING DOCKS NOT PROTECTED BY LEVEES ARE FLOODED. * AT 55.0 FEET... HIGHWAY 79 BETWEEN CODY AND MARIANNA... ARKANSAS IS FLOODED

The Inside Scoop will keep you posted as these and other matters develop.