Potential for flooding in low-lying areas near Missouri River

As temperatures increase to the mid-70s by Saturday, many mid-Missourians will likely head out to the Katy Trail to enjoy the sunshine. But low-lying areas of the trail near the Missouri River could experience some minor flooding as early as Friday night.

“I’ve ridden the entire trail several times over the last 20 years,” said cyclist Ed Shafer. He and his wife were in town from St. Louis for a local music festival. “We’ve seen, as we crossed the river in St. Charles, the river is definitely up.”

But Rocheport locals aren’t concerned with the potential for flooding.

“We go on the trail walking everyday,” Brandon Vair said. “So you see the river rise and fall just normal with the rain and stuff like that. But it hasn’t really seemed too much higher than usual.”

Vair, who owns a restaurant next to the Katy Trail, lives just outside the flood plain. He’s said his home has never had any flooding issues caused by the river or nearby Moniteau Creek.

“Definitely down at the river walk in Rocheport, it’s a little pedestrian trail,” Vair said. “That floods pretty often and then our baseball field floods pretty often as well.”

Despite the Moniteau Creek level being seemingly higher than usual, Vair said he isn’t concerned about flooding on the trail.

“It won’t be anywhere near the trail,” Vair said. “Come out to Rocheport. Enjoy the sunshine. Enjoy the trail. There’s nothing to be afraid of, especially this weekend. It’s not going to flood that bad.”

You can check the latest updates on river levels from the National Weather Service here.