Well, that was anticlimactic.
The Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul had been predicted to crest on Thursday, but the National Weather Service now says this likely happened shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The weather service reported a crest at 18.24 feet, or little more than a foot above major flood stage, at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, with river levels dropping to 17.9 feet as of Thursday evening. The Mississippi at Harriet Island was still lapping recreational fields and seating areas well inland of the Harriet Island pavilion, a watery intruder into parking lots and pedestrian walkways.
From the Watergate Marina to Pig’s Eye Lake, segments of eight streets and 17 parklands throughout the city remain closed.
The river is expected to continue to gradually recede over the next week, though river levels are still forecast to exceed 15 feet, or moderate flood stage, into the morning of May 4. The river reached 14 feet, or minor flood stage in mid-April, and rose to moderate flood stage around April 18.
More information is online at stpaul.gov/flood.
