Rising Mississippi...

There has been a lot of talk among folks about..."what happens to our river level here when all that snow melts up north?"   In reality, the Mississippi here ALWAYS gets high in May & June due to snow melt combined with Spring rainfall.    It gets exceptionally high here (where the Corps has to open the Spillway) when the Spring rains across the OHIO VALLEY are exceptionally heavy.  Why?  Most people don't know that 70% of the volume in the LOWER Mississippi River comes from the OHIO River while only 30% of the volume comes from the UPPER Mississippi River.  So the rains over Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and states east are much more important than heavy rains over the northern plains.   We'll be on the High River Watch for the next 2-3 months, but without heavy rainfall, the annual snow melt will not create problems down here.

What most of us want is warmer air.  Historically in mid March highs are 70+ .  Today despite bright sunshine we managed 62.  Comfy cool IF you had on a jacket or sweater, but I'm ready for 75-80.  Of course that means allergy time is here.   You can even see the pollen on the cars each morning.   I feel for those of you suffering from the watery eyes, stuffy noses & sore throats.  Fortunately (so far), as I've aged,  my allergies are much better than when I was in my 30s & 40s.  Then again, I don't remember much so I might just think my allergies were bad?    Whatever!   Stay tuned!