Water levels at the St Louis, Missouri, harbor are forecast to rise above 0ft this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, allowing for easier barge transit at the harbor after weeks of low water concerns.
St Louis is forecast to receive multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms today, including some hail, with around 1 inch of precipitation expected to pour over the greater St Louis area, according to the NWS. As water from the tributaries reaches the harbor into this weekend, levels as high as 10.7ft are expected by 11 March.
This rain is long awaited as the St Louis harbor has been grappling with low water conditions since early January. These conditions were exacerbated by minimal rainfall in February, causing water levels to fall below -3ft at the terminal.
Some barge carriers will finally be able to resume loading at their docks after calling off all barge movement due to the low water.
Draft restrictions are anticipated to slowly loosen in the coming days as water levels rise, and more weight can be placed on barges. Current draft restrictions are between 9.6-10ft at St Louis.
