Flooding Stops Barge Traffic on Upper Mississippi River

Heavy rains and severe storms in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, from June into October, have resulted in several instances of flooding through the region, according to theUSDA Grain Transportation Report.

As of October 10, the latest round of rain closed six locks on the Upper Mississippi River.

The southern-most lock closure is at Lock 22, near Hannibal, MO, which has stopped all export-bound barge shipments originating from points north; including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and parts of Missouri and Illinois.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate that water levels at Lock 22 will not recede to navigable levels, until October 23.