Any one heard how the X-MILW and X-CBQ is doing between LaCrosse and St. Paul? Both railroads hug the Mississippi and that their their acrilles head.
About 1996 or so, I had a BN messenger job and got the effect of the Mississippi flood X CBQ Daytons Bluff yard from the backwarters of the Mississippi into Daytons Bluff Yard.
Ed Burns
Neither the BNSF or CPKC has issued any customer alerts. I'll update if I hear anything.
Major flooding is coming, but still a couple of days away. Looking at the National Weather Service's hydrologic prediction website, Major flooding is currently forecast as far south as Davenport, Iowa (https://water.weather.gov/ahps/).
While the CPKC River Sub between River Jct and St Croix tends to fare better in these types of situations, it still bears watching. I would expect that there'll be some issues on the Marquette Sub (south of La Crescent ) in certain locations. Not sure about BNSF's Aurora and St. Croix Subs across the River on the Wisconsin and Illinois sides.
The "Subway" under the Government Bridge at Davenport will be a big problem. I would guess that the KC trains will be detoured over UP's Spine Line for awhile. I also I wonder what will happen at St. Paul Yard.
Here's a better NWS website to track the flooding: https://www.weather.gov/ncrfc/. The default map shows the worst case flood forecast for each measurement location for the entire 9-day forecast period. Major flooding now is projected as far south as Keithsburg, IL (old M&St.L river crossing). Not much doubt that Major flooding will keep moving south as the slug of high water heads down river. Once the water levels get high many of the northern hydrographs exhibit a flat trendline.
More precipitation is currently headed for the Twin Cities-Quincy segment of the river. This appears to be developing into a major event.
Just a few months ago, weren't some worried the river was going to reach record lows this summer?
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
York1Just a few months ago, weren't some worried the river was going to reach record lows this summer?
And it still may - one season does not represent all seasons.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD York1 Just a few months ago, weren't some worried the river was going to reach record lows this summer? And it still may - one season does not represent all seasons.
York1 Just a few months ago, weren't some worried the river was going to reach record lows this summer?
That's why we should not lose our heads over predictions.
ns145 More precipitation is currently headed for the Twin Cities-Quincy segment of the river. This appears to be developing into a major event.
At St Paul the forecast crest (middle of next week) is still over a foot lower than what we saw just four years ago in 2019. As you go downstream, the forecast levels get well above 2019 and have a much flatter crest.
My uninformed speculation is that the difference has to do with the fact that St. Paul is not really managed as much - there are only two dams upstream that are in the middle of the Metro and probably don't have much storage capacity. So St. Paul is more subject to concentrated events and shorter-duration weather patterns. Downstream, the Corps can smooth some of that out by managing dams, but there's less they can do about a huge snowpack that all has to come downstream at some point. So it makes sense that, in relative terms, this year's situation (a huge snowpack late in the winter, followed by more-or-less seasonal weather) would have more impact downstream from St. Paul.
Then as you go further south the snowmelt becomes a smaller and smaller factor.
Dan
Well as of now the St Paul Union Depot railcam shows the river is high but not too bad - Warner/Shepard Road on the downtown (camera) side of the river is still above water here...although the road is currently closed as a precaution. The tracks are elevated, two streets go under the tracks, so they should be OK even if it gets much worse. However there are lower areas on either side that could be affected if it's really bad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytp1IVt6OPA
p.s. if go 'full screen' and look to the far side of the river, just left of the big electrical tower, you can make out the white "1965" sign showing how high that flood was.
wjstixWell as of now the St Paul Union Depot railcam shows the river is high but not too bad - Warner/Shepard Road on the downtown (camera) side of the river is still above water here...although the road is currently closed as a precaution. The tracks are elevated, two streets go under the tracks, so they should be OK even if it gets much worse. However there are lower areas on either side that could be affected if it's really bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytp1IVt6OPA p.s. if go 'full screen' and look to the far side of the river, just left of the big electrical tower, you can make out the white "1965" sign showing how high that flood was.
Will the downstream beavers go to full construction mode to back the river up to flood stage?
The river at St.Paul has been at flood stage for several days. In the SPUD cam, the "1965" sign across the river is normally about 15-20 feet above the water level.
BTW Shepard / Warner Rd. now has water on it, when it peaks later this week the sidewalks will also be under.
NP Eddie Any one heard how the X-MILW and X-CBQ is doing between LaCrosse and St. Paul? Both railroads hug the Mississippi and that their their acrilles head. About 1996 or so, I had a BN messenger job and got the effect of the Mississippi flood X CBQ Daytons Bluff yard from the backwarters of the Mississippi into Daytons Bluff Yard. Ed Burns
Saw a clip on the news with the ex-Milwaukee Line in the background. They are filling and stacking what look like HESCO barriers with sand and stacking two high on the landward side of the Ex-Milwaukee Main it looked like 4-6 feet above the rail. So my guess is the line is expected to flood and they do not look like they care about that.
The water has risen noticeably just since this morning near St. Paul Union Depot.
(84) Union Depot Railfan Cam 1 - YouTube
Keep in mind the road that is now flooded is normally about 15' above river level.
Here are some more camviews - note the debris (like tree trunks) that have been washed down the river!
Mississippi River Camera | Saint Paul Minnesota (stpaul.gov)
CMStPnPSaw a clip on the news with the ex-Milwaukee Line in the background. They are filling and stacking what look like HESCO barriers with sand and stacking two high on the landward side of the Ex-Milwaukee Main it looked like 4-6 feet above the rail. So my guess is the line is expected to flood and they do not look like they care about that.
I know some barriers were put up because of slides off of the bluff endangering the road beneath, that might be what you saw(?) You can see one example here when the cams cycle around to "Wabasha Street Bluffs":
https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/technology-communications/communications-and-digital-media/mississippi-river-camera
Unless it reaches 1952 / 1965 levels I don't think the rail lines are in much danger of flooding.
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