Mississippi Crests at 48 Feet

The Mississippi River’s epic swelling has peaked in Memphis, the National Weather Service said on Tuesday morning, cresting at 47.85 feet—just inches from the 1937 record of 48.7 feet. The unusually high levels have caused flooding in low-lying areas of the city, causing hundreds to evacuate from their homes. Fortunately, most of the city—including famous local landmarks such as Elvis’ Graceland—were spared, but the waters are expected to stay near these levels for the next day or so, and it’ll take weeks for the river to get back to normal. New Orleans is bracing for the high waters next, with engineers scrambling to fortify levees and opening a major spillway in order to divert pressure. It’s likely to be the greatest strain on the Louisiana city’s water infrastructure since Hurricane Katrina.