The mighty Mississippi River south of St. Louis is drying up because of drought

Tower Rock is a massive island in the middle of the Mississippi River south of St. Louis. It is usually surrounded by water and access to it is by boat. However, with the severe drought spreading across the Midwest, levels of rivers have literally touched rock bottom. It has reduced to such a level that people can now reach the rock formation on foot. Water levels could continue to drop for at least the next two weeks. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, it is possible to reach the Tower Rock on foot when the water level is below 1.5 feet. This level dripped to a near zero and there are no signs of any significant recovery. The US Drought Monitor cautions that more than 55 percent of the contiguous United States is in drought. More than 133 million people live in those drought-stricken areas – the biggest population affected since 2016. Severe drought covers large areas of Arkansas and Missouri. Many locations have seen record-low precipitation over the past few weeks. The forecast from the Climate Prediction Center indicates a dry weather with below-average rainfall in the outlook through at least October 23. The mighty Mississippi is so low, people are walking to a unique rock formation rarely accessible by foot. Drought situation in the central US affected the Mississippi River. In Memphis, it was at its lowest level since 2012 this week and fifth lowest on record. It could decline further.

There are more than 40 river gauges in the Mississippi River Basin. These are reporting low water levels, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Photos reveal the river has moved away from its banks. The mighty river resembles a trickle in some areas, with dry sand exposed where several feet of water usually flows. Such a situation at a crucial time of the year is undesirable for the transport of crops from the nation’s heartland. The authorities have undertaken dredging of the river to ensure movement of traffic. Hundreds of barges and vessels are in queue to pass through the treacherously low river.

Some popular stories of this blogger –

Greece depended entirely on renewable energy for five hours on a single day and used solar, wind and hydroelectric power

Prince Harry announced the return of Invictus Games to Canada in 2025 for the first-ever winter sports edition

Another incident of gun violence in North Carolina kills five, police arrests a 15-year-old boy

Unique flower market of Kolkata at Mullick Ghat on the banks of the Hooghly

Singapore redefines a city with an abundance of green spaces

Australia in the fury of floods with homes in Melbourne flooded, forecast says rivers will remain dangerously high for days

Kim Jong-un supervised long-range cruise missile tests to demonstrate Pyongyang's readiness for "actual war"

The US has agreed to allow 24.000 migrants from Venezuela to stay legally for up to two years

Odisha prepares for possible cyclonic strikes in October-November