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Mississippi River at Thebes

Highest listed crest 47.74 ftFlood stage 33.0 ft41 crests since 1844

The Mississippi River at Thebes crested at major flood stage 12 times among the 41 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1844 to 2025. The highest, 47.74 ft on January 2, 2016, was major flooding, 14.74 feet above flood stage. 22 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
47.74 ft
January 2, 2016; 1,111,594 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
33.0 ft
Major flooding from 42.0 ft
Crests at major
12
21st of 177 gauges in Illinois
Most recent flood crest
April 9, 2025
34.28 ft, minor flooding
Location
Alexander County
Near Cape Girardeau (8.0 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Mississippi River at Thebes
Action stage30.01Dec 30, 1988The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)33.012Apr 9, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage37.016May 22, 2010Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage42.012Jun 11, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

41 crests from 1844 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Thebes, 1844 to 2025 3035404550ft Flood stage 33.0 ftMajor 42.0 ft Jul 4, 1844: 45.15 ft, major flooding; 1,375,000 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1943: 40.26 ft, moderate floodingJul 24, 1951: 39.31 ft, moderate floodingMay 13, 1961: 38.74 ft, moderate floodingApr 30, 1973: 43.43 ft, major floodingApr 27, 1984: 38.58 ft, moderate floodingMar 1, 1985: 40.46 ft, moderate floodingNov 24, 1986: 39.84 ft, moderate floodingOct 14, 1987: 41.52 ft, moderate floodingDec 30, 1988: 31.19 ft, action stageMay 21, 1990: 39.78 ft, moderate floodingAug 7, 1993: 45.51 ft, major flooding; 996,000 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1994: 40.08 ft, moderate floodingMay 23, 1995: 45.91 ft, major flooding; 856,000 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1997: 38.91 ft, moderate floodingApr 20, 1998: 38.30 ft, moderate floodingMay 10, 1999: 37.03 ft, moderate floodingJun 12, 2001: 37.82 ft, moderate floodingMay 18, 2002: 44.31 ft, major floodingMay 14, 2003: 33.62 ft, minor flooding; 501,733 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2004: 33.67 ft, minor flooding; 489,851 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2005: 35.63 ft, minor flooding; 549,145 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2008: 40.95 ft, moderate flooding; 739,203 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2009: 38.35 ft, moderate flooding; 640,291 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2010: 39.02 ft, moderate flooding; 660,220 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 44.74 ft, major flooding; 922,414 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2011: 45.52 ft, major flooding; 969,909 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2013: 43.62 ft, major flooding; 857,529 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2014: 33.69 ft, minor flooding; 490,342 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2015: 42.02 ft, major flooding; 792,435 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 2016: 47.74 ft, major flooding; 1,111,594 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2017: 43.18 ft, major flooding; 852,797 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 2018: 35.84 ft, minor flooding; 555,922 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2019: 43.66 ft, major flooding; 878,595 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2020: 36.32 ft, minor flooding; 581,520 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2021: 36.47 ft, minor flooding; 570,504 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2024: 33.14 ft, minor flooding; 501,468 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2024: 34.66 ft, minor flooding; 544,805 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2024: 35.77 ft, minor flooding; 578,138 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 2024: 33.43 ft, minor flooding; 509,534 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2025: 34.28 ft, minor flooding; 58,800 cubic feet per second Highest, 47.74 ft, Jan 2, 2016 1880192019602000

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Thebes 1840s: 1 1850s: 0 1860s: 0 1870s: 0 1880s: 0 1890s: 0 1900s: 0 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 0 1940s: 1 1950s: 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 1 1980s: 4 1990s: 7 2000s: 7 2010s: 10 10 2020s: 7 1840s1860s1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Thebes
1Jan 2, 201647.74+14.74Major1,111,594
2May 23, 199545.91+12.91Major856,000
3May 3, 201145.52+12.52Major969,909
4Aug 7, 199345.51+12.51Major996,000
5Jul 4, 184445.15+12.15Major1,375,000
6Apr 29, 201144.74+11.74Major922,414
7May 18, 200244.31+11.31Major—
8Jun 11, 201943.66+10.66Major878,595
9Jun 7, 201343.62+10.62Major857,529
10Apr 30, 197343.43+10.43Major—
11May 6, 201743.18+10.18Major852,797
12Jul 3, 201542.02+9.02Major792,435
13Oct 14, 198741.52+8.52Moderate—
14Jul 3, 200840.95+7.95Moderate739,203
15Mar 1, 198540.46+7.46Moderate—
16May 27, 194340.26+7.26Moderate—
17Apr 17, 199440.08+7.08Moderate—
18Nov 24, 198639.84+6.84Moderate—
19May 21, 199039.78+6.78Moderate—
20Jul 24, 195139.31+6.31Moderate—
21May 22, 201039.02+6.02Moderate660,220
22Mar 3, 199738.91+5.91Moderate—
23May 13, 196138.74+5.74Moderate—
24Apr 27, 198438.58+5.58Moderate—
25May 23, 200938.35+5.35Moderate640,291
26Apr 20, 199838.30+5.30Moderate—
27Jun 12, 200137.82+4.82Moderate—
28May 10, 199937.03+4.03Moderate—
29Mar 22, 202136.47+3.47Minor570,504
30Mar 27, 202036.32+3.32Minor581,520
31Oct 18, 201835.84+2.84Minor555,922
32Jul 12, 202435.77+2.77Minor578,138
33Jan 16, 200535.63+2.63Minor549,145
34May 12, 202434.66+1.66Minor544,805
35Apr 9, 202534.28+1.28Minor58,800
36Jul 14, 201433.69+0.69Minor490,342
37Jun 6, 200433.67+0.67Minor489,851
38May 14, 200333.62+0.62Minor501,733
39Jul 19, 202433.43+0.43Minor509,534
40May 4, 202433.14+0.14Minor501,468
41Dec 30, 198831.19−1.81Action—

The worst floods along the Mississippi River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Mississippi River that crested above flood stage within a week.

January 2, 2016: 47.74 ft here, major flooding

May 23, 1995: 45.91 ft here, major flooding

May 3, 2011: 45.52 ft here, major flooding

  • HickmanKY · May 2, 2011 · 54.29 ft · Major · its highest
  • New MadridMO · May 6, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • TiptonvilleMO · May 5, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • MemphisTN · May 10, 2011 · 48.03 ft · Major
  • CaruthersvilleMO · May 7, 2011 · 47.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • OsceolaAR · May 8, 2011 · 47.48 ft · Major
  • Cape GirardeauMO · May 3, 2011 · 46.28 ft · Major
  • ChesterIL · May 2, 2011 · 39.74 ft · Moderate
  • GraftonIL · May 1, 2011 · 25.93 ft · Moderate
  • AltonIL · Apr 30, 2011 · 25.06 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Mississippi River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Mississippi River
TiptonvilleMO37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112
Alma - Pool 5MN672.0672.13 ft, Apr 16, 20010
AltonIL21.039.55 ft, Aug 1, 19937
Baton RougeLA35.047.28 ft, May 15, 192731
BellevueIL17.023.51 ft, Apr 26, 196511
BrainerdMN16.017.61 ft, Jun 28, 20120
BrownsvilleMN635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
BurlingtonIL15.025.73 ft, Jun 17, 200836
CamancheIA17.024.65 ft, Apr 28, 196520
Canton Lock and Dam 20MO15.027.88 ft, Jul 9, 19933
Cape GirardeauMO32.048.86 ft, Jan 2, 201615
CaruthersvilleMO32.047.61 ft, May 7, 20112
ChesterIL27.049.74 ft, Aug 7, 19939
Clarksville Lock and Dam 24MO25.037.73 ft, Jul 29, 199310
ClaytonIA620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
DakotaMN644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
DonaldsonvilleLA27.036.01 ft, May 15, 19273
Dubuque (LD11)IA16.025.69 ft, Apr 26, 196513
Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA17.026.81 ft, Apr 26, 196518
Fort RipleyMN10.514.15 ft, Apr 8, 19970
Fridley abv 37th Ave NEMN16.020.00 ft, Apr 17, 19656
FultonIL16.024.75 ft, Apr 28, 196513
GladstoneIL10.022.46 ft, Jun 17, 200824
GraftonIL20.038.17 ft, Aug 1, 199315
Gregory LandingMO15.028.49 ft, Jul 9, 19934
HannibalMO17.031.80 ft, Jul 15, 199310
HelenaAR44.060.21 ft, Feb 12, 19374
HerculaneumMO26.029.79 ft, Jul 10, 20240
HickmanKY34.054.29 ft, May 2, 20113
Hwy 169 at ChamplinMN12.017.96 ft, Apr 12, 19653
Hwy 610 in Brooklyn ParkMN12.019.53 ft, Apr 17, 19654
Illinois CityIA15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321
KeithsburgIA14.024.49 ft, Jun 17, 200822
KeokukIA16.027.58 ft, Jul 10, 199324
La Crosse - Pool 8WI12.017.89 ft, Apr 22, 19654
LaGrangeMO17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Lake CityWI16.022.18 ft, Apr 19, 19653
Lansing - Pool 9IA17.022.50 ft, Apr 24, 19651
LeClaireIA11.017.75 ft, Apr 28, 196516
LouisianaMO15.028.40 ft, Jul 28, 19934
McGregorIA16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL21.042.72 ft, Aug 1, 19938
MemphisTN34.048.70 ft, Feb 10, 19372
MuscatineIA16.025.61 ft, Jul 9, 199321
NatchezMS48.061.95 ft, May 19, 20116
New BostonIL15.025.90 ft, Jul 9, 199322
New MadridMO34.048.35 ft, May 6, 20114
New OrleansLA17.021.27 ft, Apr 25, 19225
OsceolaAR28.050.90 ft, Feb 7, 193742
QuincyIL19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL18.031.30 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Red River LandingLA48.063.39 ft, May 18, 20110
Red WingMN14.020.70 ft, Apr 18, 19659
ReserveLA22.026.00 ft, Jun 11, 19291
Rock IslandIL15.022.70 ft, May 2, 201920
Saverton Lock and Dam 22MO16.029.58 ft, Jul 25, 19939
St. CloudMN9.011.44 ft, Apr 8, 19971
St. LouisMO30.049.58 ft, Aug 1, 19939
St. PaulMN14.026.01 ft, Apr 16, 196516
Thebes this gaugeIL33.047.74 ft, Jan 2, 201612
Tunica Mhoon LandingMS30.053.20 ft, Feb 10, 19375
VicksburgLA43.057.10 ft, May 19, 201112
Wabasha - Pool 4MN12.020.05 ft, Apr 19, 19657
Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO26.039.62 ft, Aug 1, 19939
Winona - Pool 6MN13.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 10 - GuttenbergIA15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN15.025.90 ft, Apr 17, 196512
Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN680.5687.77 ft, Apr 19, 19658
Lock and Dam 4 - AlmaWI16.019.78 ft, Apr 19, 19652
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN655.0663.35 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653
Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI625.0633.16 ft, Apr 24, 19653
AitkinMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

Other gauges in Alexander County

Flood gauges in Alexander County
Cairo40.061.72 ft, May 2, 201119

Alexander County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Illinois

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge THBI2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.