Mississippi River at Chester, IL
River level and flood forecast · Randolph County
Normal16.8 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 10.2 ft below flood stage (27 ft).
Forecast to fall to 7.3 ft by Mon, Oct 26, 7 AM.
Flow: 253,000 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:08 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 40 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 35 ft |
| Flood stage | 27 ft |
| Action stage | 25 ft |
| Record crest (August 7, 1993) | 49.74 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 53 ftNear this height, the Ste. Genevieve County levee #3 is overtopped.
- 51 ftThe Health Care Unit of the Menard Correctional Center begins flooding near this height. Also at this height, the Grand Tower levee is overtopped. This levee protects 14,800 acres.
- 50 ftSte. Genevieve, Ft. Chartres, Ivy Landing, and Kaskaskia Island levees overtopped.
- 49.5 ftNear this height, the Bois Brule, Degognia, and Fountain Bluff levees are overtopped. The Bois Brule levee protects 26,060 acres. The Degognia and Fountain Bluff levees protect 36,200 acres.
- 49.4 ftStringtown and Prairie DuRocher levees overtopped.
- 49 ftDegognia and Fountain Bluff Levee overtopped.
- 47.5 ftThe Ardent Mills Chester Mill begins flooding near this height.
- 45.5 ftNear this height, Missouri Route H will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to Route M.
- 45.1 ftNear this height, Missouri Route M is closed in both directions at River Aux Vases.
- 45 ftAt this height, the Chester waterworks pumphouse floods.
- 44 ftAt this height, Missouri State Highway 51 is closed from Perry County Road 944 to the Illinois State Line at the bridge into Chester.
- 42.4 ftNear this height, Missouri Route H is closed between Route M and Missouri Highway 51.
- 42.3 ftNear this height, Missouri State Route U will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to the Illinois State line at the Kaskaskia Island bridge.
- 42 ftFour cottage units at the Menard Correctional Center begin flooding near this height.
- 41.1 ftNear this height, Missouri Route V southeast of Bloomsdale is closed between Highway 61 and North White Sands Road.
- 40.79 ftMain Street in Evansville inundated.
- 40 ftA hunting lodge near the mouth of the Kaskaskia River begins flooding.
- 39 ftRailroad tracks in St. Mary, Missouri begin flooding.
- 38.7 ftIllinois State Highway 155 at Prairie du Rocher begins flooding near this height.
- 38.4 ftAt this level IL Route 3 at levee east of Cora inundated.
- 38.1 ftNear this level, Illinois Route 3 near the Mary's River bridge is closed.
- 37.7 ftNear this height, Route J is closed in both directions at U.S. Highway 61.
- 37.6 ftAt this height, Missouri Route M between Route H and Perry County Road 924 is closed.
- 37.5 ftThe southbound lane on Kaskaskia Street and the south parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
- 37.2 ftNear this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed between Ste. Genevieve and Route J.
- 37 ftUnion Pacific property along Water Street begins to flood.
- 36.9 ftNear this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed from Route J to St. Mary.
- 36.5 ftChester water intake house is flooded... damage begins to occur to 4 homes and administration buildings at Menard State Prison. Prairie DuRocher pump station damaged and road to Kaskaskia Lock inundated.
- 36 ftChester water works pumphouse is threatened by flood waters. Highway 61 is closed at the bend at St. Mary and a detour is set up through town. Near this height, St. Genevieve County levee #2 is overtopped. This levee protects 7000 acres.
- 35.2 ftIn Perry County, Highway C is closed between County Roads 352 and 354 (the Levee Road) near Menfro.
- 35 ftSte. Genevieve flood gates are closed at this level.
- 34.79 ftKaskaskia Street near the Menard Prison begins flooding near this height.
- 34.7 ftThe north parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
- 33.5 ftWater Street in Chester begins flooding.
- 33 ftWithin a foot of this height, Highway A is closed between County Roads 448 and 460 at Wittenberg in southern Perry County.
- 32.5 ftThe Road at Fort Gage Farm begins flooding at Menard Correctional Center.
- 31.5 ftIn Perry County, Highway E is closed between County Road 322 and Levee Road (County Road 354) at Bois Brule Creek.
- 28 ftUnleveed islands near Chester and the prison farm floods.
- 27 ftFlood Stage. Unprotected farmland on right bank begins to flood.
- 25 ftDegognia Fountain Bluff Levee gates are closed.
Highest crests on record
- 49.74 ft — August 7, 1993
- 46.52 ft — June 10, 2019
- 45.99 ft — January 2, 2016
- 44.66 ft — May 6, 2017
- 44 ft — May 23, 1995
Recent crests: 31.42 ft (May 2, 2026) · 27.84 ft (April 21, 2026) · 34.16 ft (July 11, 2024) · 27.55 ft (May 29, 2024) · 31.22 ft (May 3, 2024)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamMississippi River at Cape Girardeau, MO
- S Fork Saline Creek above Perryville, MO
- Kaskaskia River at New Athens, IL
- Big Muddy River at Murphysboro, IL
- Little St. Francis River at Fredericktown, MO
- St. Francis River near Roselle, MO
- Joachim Creek at DeSoto, MO
- Silver Creek near Mascoutah, IL
- St. Francis River at Mill Creek, MO
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CHSI2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.