{"id":12499,"date":"2023-12-25T13:40:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T12:40:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12499"},"modified":"2023-12-25T13:40:05","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T12:40:05","slug":"when-does-the-mississippi-river-crest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/when-does-the-mississippi-river-crest\/","title":{"rendered":"When Does The Mississippi River Crest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The mighty Mississippi River, in the United States, is one of the most iconic and powerful waterways in the world, but the timing when the water crests can still be an unpredictable phenomenon. Although flooding is part of the river’s seasonal cycle, the time of its crest can vary depending on various factors. It is generally accepted that the Mississippi River crests somewhere in the spring every year, but this time span can fluctuate significantly. <\/p>\n

Fluctuations in the timing of the river crest are due to the fact that the Mississippi River basin is filled by the run-off from rain and melting snow in the spring. The amount of water that the river receives is determined by both the number and intensity of storms in the spring and the amount of snow that melts from the river’s branches. Additionally, the construction of levees and other flood control measures have had a significant effect on the timing of the Mississippi River’s crest. <\/p>\n

When the water in the river reaches a certain level, it is said to crest, or reach its peak flow. Many years ago, the Mississippi River usually crested around April 20th, but due to human interference, the average cresting time has now shifted to sometime between early May and late May. <\/p>\n

Experts are increasingly worried that the increase in extreme weather events and climate change will lead to even more frequent and severe floods. According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the frequency of flooding in the Mississippi River has increased significantly since the 1950s. There is growing concern that the number of flooding events will continue to increase as atmospheric temperatures rise. <\/p>\n