NEBRASKA CITY - Flood waters have reached the federal levees  along the Missouri River today, but the latest hydrographs downstream of Omaha have lowered the expected crests by a few inches.

The Highway 2 overflow bridges at Nebraska City have eliminated a pinch point that caused problems in catastrophic flooding in 2011 and 2019. Officials are now monitoring the next river pinch point at Highway 136 at Brownville.

Moderate flooding is still expected along the Missouri River as the water continues to rise through Saturday afternoon, but the chances for major flood stage have been reduced for Plattsmouth, Nebraska City and downstream.

 

Plattsmouth has sandbags in place for the city wellhouse and there are flood barriers around the public dock at Nebraska City.

Although the flood protection levees have been rebuilt since the 2019 flood, they are untested. Water will be up against the levees for about five days, but US Army Corps of Engineers say they expect the structures to operate as designed.

The river is expected to reach moderate flood stage at Nebraska City on Friday and fall below flood levels on Monday.

 

At Nebraska City, the crest has been downgraded from 25.2 feet to 23.8 feet. The river is expected to reach moderate flood stage Friday at 1 a.m. and fall below moderate flood stage Monday morning.

The river will crest at 33 feet, two feet below major flood stage at Plattsmouth. Floodwaters are not expected to reach the city’s wellhouse, which has been sandbagged. The Schilling Wildlife Refuge is closed.

The river at Brownville will reach moderate flood stage at 7 p.m. today and fall below moderate flood stage on Wednesday in time for the July 4 Independence Day celebration. The forecasted crest of 41.2 feet is about a foot lower than initially forecast.

 

At Rulo, the river is forecast to crest at 23.6 feet Monday morning.

Officials are expecting First Street at Nebraska City to be closed as the floodwaters rise. Flood barriers are in place at Heartland Co-op at Nebraska City’s public dock and the access road to Riverview Marina is closed today.

Portions of Interstate 29 north of Omaha are closed and additional closures are possible as the water rises. Highway 75 is an alternative route.

Local law enforcement is urging caution as traffic increases on Highway 75.