NEBRASKA CITY – Heavy rains in the upstream Missouri River basin are expected to cause a rise in the river levels beginning today.

The hydrograph for Nebraska City shows the river rising from near the minor flood stage f 18.5 feet to 20.6 feet by Sunday.

The river forecasting is made difficult because of broken levees, but as much as 3.5 inches of rain fell Tuesday into Wednesday between Blair and Sioux City. Rainfall of two to five inches fell farther north.

None of the runoff will be captured by the flood control dams on the Missouri.

The Corps of Engineers said it is reducing releases from upstream dams to avoid having to increase releases from Gavins Point.