River stage
Cape Girardeau, Mississippi River
- River level
- 21.21 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -6.72 ft
- Recent high
- 31.81 ft
- Recent low
- 8.21 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS CPGM7
- 30-day change
- +11.85 ft
- Average
- 19.38 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 48.86 ft
In brief
The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau, MO read 21.21 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 7.79 ft below action stage. That is 11.85 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge CPGM7
Water 69 °F (20 °C) · 2 °F warmer than normal for this date
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48.86 ft | 2016-01-02 |
| 2 | 48.49 ft | 1993-08-08 |
| 3 | 47.00 ft | 1995-05-24 |
| 4 | 46.90 ft | 1993-08-03 |
| 5 | 46.36 ft | 2019-06-11 |
| 6 | 46.28 ft | 2011-05-03 |
| 7 | 45.99 ft | 2017-05-07 |
| 8 | 45.70 ft | 2002-05-18 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 29.00 ft
The area north of the Little River Diversion Channel begins to flood.
- 32.00 ft
Minor flooding occurs. The Mississippi River backs into several creeks producing flooding.
- 36.00 ft
The flood gate on Themis Street closes.
- 38.00 ft
The flood gate at Broadway closes.
- 42.00 ft
Several homes and structures in southern Cape Girardeau County may be inundated or cut off due to backwater flooding from the Diversion Channel. Evacuations may be required. Thousands of acres are flooded. Numerous roads are closed both along the Mississippi River and due to backwater flooding.
- 43.00 ft
The flood gate on North Main Street closes.
- 48.86 ft
This flood will exceed the highest stage on record.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mississippi River flooding at Cape Girardeau?
No. The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau is at 21.21 ft, 7.79 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Cape Girardeau?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 29 ft, minor flooding 32 ft, moderate flooding 37 ft and major flooding 42 ft.
What is the highest the Mississippi River has been at Cape Girardeau?
The highest crest on record is 48.86 ft, on 2016-01-02.
Is the Mississippi River high or low right now at Cape Girardeau?
At 21.21 ft it is higher than 57% of readings over the last 122 days.
How warm is the water at Cape Girardeau, Mississippi River?
The water temperature at Cape Girardeau, Mississippi River is 69 °F (20.4 °C), measured 6:45 pm by USGS, which is 2 °F warmer than normal for this date over the past ten years. It has held steady over the last 24 hours.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge CPGM7); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 07020850). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.