Mississippi River Drought

Low river levels are beginning to maroon boats docked at the Riverside Park Marina south of Downtown Memphis Nov. 2, 2022.

New dashboard provides drought data across Mississippi River Basin

Dozens of metrics are used to determine drought and that can make it complicated to measure and track. But it’s a bit easier now thanks to the new government dashboard, which tracks drought across the Mississippi River Basin.

In this aerial photo, responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on I-55 in Manchac, La. on Oct. 23, 2023. A “superfog” of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense morning fog caused multiple traffic crashes involving scores of cars.

News

Swamp fire smoke could affect New Orleans for months, city emergency head says

Garrett Hazelwood

Air quality in areas along the river was ranked “moderate” for level of concern Friday morning, according to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Since then, the smoke has somewhat dissipated.

Exposed ground is seen in a dried up river bed where the normally wide Mississippi River would flow, Oct. 20, 2022, near Portageville, Mo.

Coastal Desk

Wetter weather forecast for Gulf South this winter, though drought won’t disappear

Garrett Hazelwood

Rainy weather is set to return to the Gulf Coast after an unusually dry hurricane season that’s contributed to crop failures, saltwater intrusion and record-breaking wildfires.

Whistling ducks fly past the Carrollton Gauge on the Mississippi River in New Orleans. It's been about 12 years since it has been this low.

Coastal Desk

Mayors call for federal assistance as Mississippi River reaches record lows

Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mayors along the Mississippi River are asking for more federal help as the drought that has plagued the nation’s water superhighway in recent weeks drags on. City leaders shared wide-ranging impacts of dry conditions at a Tuesday press conference hosted by the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, from barge slowdowns to water main breaks caused by shifting dry ground.