Rising Mississippi River continues to test flood defense in Illinois, Iowa

The rising Mississippi River will continue to test flood defenses in southeast Iowa and northwest Illinois on Monday as it crests in the area.

The peak water levels this spring will likely rank in the top 10 of all time in many places, but the National Weather Service said river levels will generally remain well below past records. That should help most towns along the river withstand the floodwaters though officials will be checking their floodwalls and sandbag barriers closely in the next few days.

"Luckily we’ve had relatively dry weather over the last week or so and not expecting much in the way of rainfall as well," National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Philip said. "So it’s coming through as forecast for the most part."

FLOODING MISSISSIPPI RIVER PROMPTS EVACUATIONS, SANDBAGGING

The river peaked in the Dubuque area Saturday at 23.03 feet — well below the 25.7 feet record — but officials there were grateful to have the floodwall the city built 50 years ago in place.

Without that floodwall, the city would ...