Mississippi at Memphis Near Record, Spurs Evacuations
This article is for subscribers only.
The Mississippi, the nation’s largest river system, is nearing a record level in Memphis as its rising waters force widespread evacuations, slow waterborne commerce and threaten riverside oil refineries.
The Memphis river gauge was at 47.12 feet (14.4 meters) at 2 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. The record at Memphis is 48.7 feet set in 1937.