Rising River Levels Spark Flood Warnings in St. Louis Area

ST. LOUIS — After days of severe storms, the St. Louis region is experiencing a brief reprieve from rainfall. However, rising river levels continue to pose a significant flood risk across multiple communities, prompting flood warnings as of Monday morning.

Residents have been warned that flooding could worsen, particularly near the Meramec River. Meteorologists expect the river to hit major flood stage as soon as Monday or Tuesday, affecting areas such as Eureka and Valley Park. The National Water Prediction Service has issued a flood warning set to expire at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday.

In Illinois, communities like New Athens and Vandalia along the Kaskaskia River are already facing major flood conditions. While Vandalia is projected to see levels drop to moderate flooding by Monday, New Athens is forecasted to remain in major flood stage through Thursday.

Among other impacted areas, Pacific and Union in Missouri are expected to reach moderate flood stage by early Tuesday. Additionally, Byrnesville has already been in moderate flood stage since Saturday and is expected to stay there until Tuesday morning.

Hank, co-owner of Bobby's Place, a Blues-themed sports bar in Valley Park, expressed concern about the rising water levels. “Right now, we’re just watching it, and if it comes to the point of having to do it, we’ve been through it before,” he said, recalling preparations from past floods.

Mark Fusch of the National Weather Service attributed the ongoing flood concerns to consistent rainfall. “Just an accumulation of more rain, and more rain and more rain,” he noted, while urging residents to stay vigilant.

John Scardena, CEO of Doberman Emergency Management, underscored the importance of preparedness for residents in flood-prone areas. “It’s always smart just to get out instead of seeing how tough you are,” he warned, advising locals to activate emergency notifications and familiarize themselves with evacuation routes.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is actively preparing for potential flooding by cleaning storm inlets to enhance water flow, as blocked inlets can exacerbate flooding situations. “If you can see things blocking the storm inlets, if you can safely kick or sweep that out of the way, that will help water flow into there,” said Nicholle Spencer of MSD.

According to the National Weather Service, if the Meramec River exceeds 33 feet, it could flood portions of Old Highway 141 and surrounding areas. Current forecasts indicate that the river is expected to surpass that threshold on Tuesday, raising further concerns among residents.

Meanwhile, in Pacific, local emergency management officials have set up resources for sandbagging, urging residents to prepare, especially around the Pacific Palisades Conservation Area. Hal Schulman, Emergency Management director, reported that the NOAA National Water Prediction Service expects the Meramec River to reach a moderate flood level of 24.80 feet by early Tuesday.

While officials do not anticipate widespread evacuations, preparations are being made at locations like the Tri-County Community Center, which will open to residents if necessary. Other traffic adjustments, including road closures, are in place to mitigate any flooding risks.

Jefferson County fire departments are also on standby to provide sandbags to residents in need, according to Emergency Management officials. As the situation develops, local authorities are working closely with first responder agencies to ensure a swift response to flooding emergencies.