TIME.CO, Jakarta – Low water levels downstream Sungai Mississippi will likely continue through at least January, despite forecasts of above-normal precipitation in the southern United States this winter. This statement came from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather forecasting agency, quoted by Reuters, on Monday, October 23, 2023.
The severe to exceptional drought plaguing the lower Mississippi River basin is expected to improve this winter as the El Niño weather pattern brings better precipitation to the region, NOAA said in its U.S. winter weather forecast.
But a prolonged drought in the upper Midwest and forecasts of normal or below-normal precipitation in river basins that supply tributaries such as the Illinois and Ohio rivers could slow the Mississippi River’s recovery.
Low tides slowed grain shipments via export barges from the agricultural Midwest for two straight years during the busy fall harvest season, making U.S. corn and soybean exports less competitive in world markets.
“We expect drought conditions in the lower-middle Mississippi Valley to improve in the coming months. But for hydrologic impacts like low river levels and low groundwater levels, recovery will be a little slower,” said Brad Pugh, drought operations manager with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.
“The hydrological impact could last until the end of January,” he said.
Announcement
The Mississippi River fell to an all-time low at the Memphis, Tennessee, river level on Monday, surpassing the previous record low water mark recorded nearly a year ago, according to National Weather Service data.
Shallow river conditions have prompted barge shippers to limit the amount of grain transported to avoid getting stuck in the parched, parched waterway.
However, in recent weeks, areas of the lower Mississippi River have been intermittently closed to navigation after vessels were grounded or by Army Corps of Engineers crews United States of America dredge low points to deepen channels.
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