Update: Pearl River in Jackson crests four feet above flood stage; begins to fall
Jackson, Miss. - The excessive rainfall over the past several days and over the past month has forced many of Mississippi's rivers to rise above flood stage including in Jackson.
The Pearl River rose above flood stage in the capital city Wednesday evening and has now reached 31.24 feet as of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service's Hydrologic Prediction Service. The flood stage in Jackson is 28 feet.
The river is forecast to continue to rise and crest early Wednesday at 32.5 feet.
The NWS said at 32 feet, water begins to affect businesses on South President and South Farish streets in Jackson with Sidney Street flooded.
The river has already caused several local creeks and streams in the Jackson area to back up with flood waters rising under some homes and approaching others in the Byram area. Flood waters from the river have also neared some businesses in the area.
The flooding along the Pearl River is not only impacting the Jackson area, but the entire length of the river from near Philadelphia, at Edinburg, near Carthage, near Lena, at Rockport, near Monticello and near Columbia. The flooding along the river continues into southeastern Louisiana.
The Pearl River is just one of many rivers across the state that have swollen over their flood stages due to the recent heavy rainfall including on the Big Sunflower River at Sunflower and near Anguilla, the Big Black River near Bovina, at West and near Bentonia, the Buttahatchie River near Aberdeen, the Yazoo River at Yazoo City, the Yockanookany River near Ofahoma, Leaf River near McLain, Pascagoula River at Merril and at Graham Ferry and the Chickasawhay River at Leaksville.
The rainfall of late has been well above normal and excessive in many areas. Widespread rainfall amounts around 15 to 20 inches has fallen since December with average rainfall amounts of seven to eight inches so far this month alone across the state.
Officially at the Jackson-Evers International Airport, 16.20 inches of rain has fallen since December with 7.49 inches of that through the first 19 days of January.
The January rainfall of 7.49 inches so far in the capital city is 4.59 inches above the normal of only 2.90 inches by this time in the year.
Vicksburg is one the soggiest places in the state, where 20.69 inches of rain has fallen since December with 12.29 inches of that through the first 19 days of January. This is so far the fourth wettest month of January in the city on record, dating back to 1948!
The good news for the time being is that with many rivers running above flood stage, no further rainfall is forecast through much of this week.
The next shot of significant rainfall, according to forecast data, will likely impact the state from late Thursday into Friday.
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