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Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam

Critical Stages
19' - Action
21' - Flood
29' - Moderate
34' - Major

Latest Observation

Updated: 6:30 AM CST 12/6/25

Status: No Flooding

Stage: 3.03 ft

Flow: 60.7 kcfs

Forecast

TimeStage (ft)Flow (kcfs)
12 PM 12/6 3.1 61.4
6 PM 12/6 3 60.4
12 AM 12/7 3 60.4
6 AM 12/7 2.9 59.4
12 PM 12/7 2.8 58.3
6 PM 12/7 2.7 57.2
12 AM 12/8 2.6 56.1
6 AM 12/8 2.5 55
12 PM 12/8 2.4 53.5
6 PM 12/8 2.3 51.9
12 AM 12/9 2.3 51.9
6 AM 12/9 2.3 51.9
12 PM 12/9 2.3 51.9
6 PM 12/9 2.3 51.9
12 AM 12/10 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/10 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/10 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/10 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/11 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/11 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/11 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/11 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/12 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/12 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/12 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/12 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/13 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/13 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/13 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/13 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/14 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/14 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/14 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/14 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/15 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/15 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/15 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/15 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/16 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/16 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/16 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/16 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/17 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/17 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/17 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/17 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/18 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/18 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/18 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/18 2.2 50.3
12 AM 12/19 2.2 50.3
6 AM 12/19 2.2 50.3
12 PM 12/19 2.2 50.3
6 PM 12/19 2.2 50.3
TimeStage (ft)Flow (kcfs)
7:00 AM 12/6 3.01 60.5
6:30 AM 12/6 3.03 60.7
6:00 AM 12/6 3.04 60.8
5:30 AM 12/6 3.04 60.8
5:00 AM 12/6 3.05 60.9
4:30 AM 12/6 3.04 60.8
4:00 AM 12/6 3.03 60.7
3:30 AM 12/6 3.08 61.2
3:00 AM 12/6 3.04 60.8
2:30 AM 12/6 3.03 60.7
2:00 AM 12/6 3.05 60.9
1:30 AM 12/6 3.19 62.3
1:00 AM 12/6 3.01 60.5
12:30 AM 12/6 3.08 61.2
12:00 AM 12/6 3.05 60.9
11:30 PM 12/5 3.02 60.6
11:00 PM 12/5 3.12 61.6
10:30 PM 12/5 3.08 61.2
10:00 PM 12/5 3.04 60.8
9:30 PM 12/5 3.09 61.3
9:00 PM 12/5 3.09 61.3
8:30 PM 12/5 3.12 61.6
8:00 PM 12/5 3.1 61.4
7:30 PM 12/5 3.07 61.1
7:00 PM 12/5 3.09 61.3
6:30 PM 12/5 3.1 61.4
6:00 PM 12/5 3.09 61.3
5:30 PM 12/5 3.1 61.4
5:00 PM 12/5 3.13 61.7
4:30 PM 12/5 3.12 61.6
Hydrograph for Mississippi River at Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam
42.7' - This is the RECORD FLOOD LEVEL that was reached on August 1 1993.
42' - Near this height U.S. Highway 67 will be completely closed. (MoDOT)
40' - Railroad tracks from Wood River to Alton begin to flood.
37.6' - Damage begins to Ardent Mills grain bins in Alton within a foot of this height.
36.1' - This represents the height of the Lincoln Shields levee just below the Missouri side of the Clark bridge.
35.5' - At this approximate stage, Mel Price Lock and Dam must close the lock to navigation. This happened on July 10, 1993.
34.5' - Near this height, the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 67 will begin flooding, forcing the detour of southbound traffic onto the northbound lanes.
34.2' - Near this height water will begin flowing over Riverlands Way between Highway 67 and Mel Price Locks and Dam. This road is a part of the Consolidated North County levee, so this is the point when water begins gradually flowing onto the protected farmland and farm homes behind the levee.
32.9' - Riverfront Park in Alton begins flooding.
31.5' - Commercial basements in Alton begin to flood within a foot of this height.
30.5' - Bloch Marine Service at the Harbor Point Yacht Club begins flooding within a foot of this level.
29.9' - Route 100 at Alton closes within a foot of this height. Also at this level the north and south Wood River Levee structures are closed.
29.3' - The North Wood River Levee must be closed at this level.
28.8' - Highway 100 will begin flooding at Clifton Terrace Street within 2 feet of this height.
28.5' - The South Wood River Levee must be closed at this level.
27.9' - Missouri Highway 94 from Alta Villa Road to Feltes Drive will be closed near this height.
26.6' - Within a foot of this height, outer road US 67 between Riverlands Way and the Lincoln Shields Access Road will close due to flooding.
26.5' - Yachtview Drive begins flooding along the entrance to Harbor Point Yacht Club within a foot of this height.
25' - Highway 94 and the east end of Harbor Point Road off of Highway 94 north of West Alton begin flooding within a foot or so of this height. Also, the access road to the Lincoln Shields area off Highway 67 just west of the Clark bridge begins flooding.
24' - Alta Villa Road off of Highway 94 north of West Alton is closed within a foot of this height.
23' - Dresser Island Drive floods within a foot of this level.
21' - Flood Stage. Minor flooding begins to occur at this level.
20.8' - Unprotected farm land begins to flood
18' - Near this height, Mel Price Lock and Dam will go to "open river" conditions, lifting all gates out of the river.
DateStage (ft)
Aug 1, 1993 42.72
Jun 9, 2019 39.01
Jun 18, 1844 36.9
Apr 28, 1973 36.89
Jan 1, 2016 35.8
May 22, 1995 35.1
May 6, 2017 34.86
Jun 4, 2013 34.38
Oct 9, 1986 34.2
May 1, 1983 33.21
Jun 30, 2008 33.08
Dec 8, 1982 32.44
Jun 30, 2015 32.27
Apr 18, 1993 30.8
Apr 25, 2013 30.62
Sep 18, 2008 29.89
Mar 8, 1985 29.6
Jun 28, 2010 29.05
Jun 9, 2001 28.9
Apr 30, 2011 28.28

Data provided by the National Weather Service.