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Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau

Highest listed crest 48.86 ftFlood stage 32.0 ft40 crests since 1943

The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau crested at major flood stage 15 times among the 40 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1943 to 2025. The highest, 48.86 ft on January 2, 2016, was major flooding, 16.86 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
48.86 ft
January 2, 2016; 1,118,484 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
32.0 ft
Major flooding from 42.0 ft
Crests at major
15
6th of 173 gauges in Missouri
Most recent flood crest
April 8, 2025
33.74 ft, minor flooding
Location
Cape Girardeau County
Near Cape Girardeau (2.3 mi), Jackson (9.2 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 Cape Girardeau
Action stage29.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)32.010Apr 8, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage37.015Mar 22, 2021Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage42.015Jun 11, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

40 crests from 1943 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, 1943 to 2025 3035404550ft Flood stage 32.0 ftMajor 42.0 ft May 27, 1943: 42.40 ft, major floodingJul 5, 1947: 41.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 1, 1973: 45.50 ft, major floodingMar 29, 1978: 38.40 ft, moderate floodingApr 17, 1979: 44.10 ft, major floodingAug 3, 1993: 46.90 ft, major floodingAug 8, 1993: 48.49 ft, major floodingMay 24, 1995: 47.00 ft, major floodingMay 17, 1996: 40.60 ft, moderate floodingMar 3, 1997: 39.57 ft, moderate floodingApr 20, 1998: 39.10 ft, moderate floodingMay 10, 1999: 37.80 ft, moderate floodingJun 30, 2000: 32.00 ft, minor floodingJun 12, 2001: 38.50 ft, moderate floodingMay 18, 2002: 45.70 ft, major floodingMay 14, 2003: 33.26 ft, minor flooding; 445,014 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2004: 34.02 ft, minor flooding; 465,534 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 2005: 35.93 ft, minor flooding; 519,893 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2007: 33.99 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 2008: 41.04 ft, moderate flooding; 624,907 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2008: 41.37 ft, moderate flooding; 635,836 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2008: 42.35 ft, major flooding; 668,895 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 2008: 40.06 ft, moderate floodingMay 23, 2009: 38.89 ft, moderate flooding; 613,760 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 2009: 39.07 ft, moderate flooding; 625,318 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2010: 39.46 ft, moderate flooding; 638,317 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 45.35 ft, major floodingMay 3, 2011: 46.28 ft, major flooding; 948,086 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2013: 44.53 ft, major flooding; 840,034 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2014: 34.84 ft, minor flooding; 519,264 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2015: 43.08 ft, major flooding; 770,108 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 2016: 48.86 ft, major flooding; 1,118,484 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2017: 45.99 ft, major flooding; 930,409 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 2018: 36.82 ft, minor flooding; 566,617 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2019: 46.36 ft, major flooding; 953,016 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2020: 37.49 ft, moderate flooding; 583,574 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 2021: 37.83 ft, moderate flooding; 592,362 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2024: 35.07 ft, minor flooding; 524,654 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 2024: 36.78 ft, minor flooding; 565,645 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2025: 33.74 ft, minor flooding; 49,400 cubic feet per second Highest, 48.86 ft, Jan 2, 2016 1960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau 1940s: 2 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 3 1980s: 0 1990s: 7 2000s: 13 13 2010s: 10 2020s: 5 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 Cape Girardeau
1Jan 2, 201648.86+16.86Major1,118,484
2Aug 8, 199348.49+16.49Major—
3May 24, 199547.00+15.00Major—
4Aug 3, 199346.90+14.90Major—
5Jun 11, 201946.36+14.36Major953,016
6May 3, 201146.28+14.28Major948,086
7May 7, 201745.99+13.99Major930,409
8May 18, 200245.70+13.70Major—
9May 1, 197345.50+13.50Major—
10Apr 29, 201145.35+13.35Major—
11Jun 7, 201344.53+12.53Major840,034
12Apr 17, 197944.10+12.10Major—
13Jul 3, 201543.08+11.08Major770,108
14May 27, 194342.40+10.40Major—
15Jul 3, 200842.35+10.35Major668,895
16Jul 5, 194741.90+9.90Moderate—
17Jun 24, 200841.37+9.37Moderate635,836
18Mar 24, 200841.04+9.04Moderate624,907
19May 17, 199640.60+8.60Moderate—
20Sep 21, 200840.06+8.06Moderate—
21Mar 3, 199739.57+7.57Moderate—
22May 22, 201039.46+7.46Moderate638,317
23Apr 20, 199839.10+7.10Moderate—
24Nov 4, 200939.07+7.07Moderate625,318
25May 23, 200938.89+6.89Moderate613,760
26Jun 12, 200138.50+6.50Moderate—
27Mar 29, 197838.40+6.40Moderate—
28Mar 22, 202137.83+5.83Moderate592,362
29May 10, 199937.80+5.80Moderate—
30Jan 15, 202037.49+5.49Moderate583,574
31Oct 18, 201836.82+4.82Minor566,617
32Jul 12, 202436.78+4.78Minor565,645
33Jan 8, 200535.93+3.93Minor519,893
34May 12, 202435.07+3.07Minor524,654
35Jul 13, 201434.84+2.84Minor519,264
36May 31, 200434.02+2.02Minor465,534
37May 14, 200733.99+1.99Minor—
38Apr 8, 202533.74+1.74Minor49,400
39May 14, 200333.26+1.26Minor445,014
40Jun 30, 200032.000.00Minor—

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: 48.86 ft here, major flooding

August 8, 1993: 48.49 ft here, major flooding

  • ChesterIL · Aug 7, 1993 · 49.74 ft · Major · its highest
  • St. LouisMO · Aug 1, 1993 · 49.58 ft · Major · its highest
  • ThebesIL · Aug 7, 1993 · 45.51 ft · Major
  • Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL · Aug 1, 1993 · 42.72 ft · Major · its highest
  • Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO · Aug 1, 1993 · 39.62 ft · Major · its highest
  • AltonIL · Aug 1, 1993 · 39.55 ft · Major · its highest
  • GraftonIL · Aug 1, 1993 · 38.17 ft · Major · its highest

May 24, 1995: 47.00 ft here, major flooding

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 Girardeau this gaugeMO32.048.86 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
ThebesIL33.047.74 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

Cape Girardeau County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Missouri

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CPGM7, 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.