Intersection of Beale and Riverside Drive – River stage -7.29 feet

If you live in the Memphis area and haven’t been Downtown to look at the Mississippi River since the Great Flood of May, 2011, you may want to go down and check out the river at near record low water levels.  The photo above was taken yesterday (7/22/2012).  The river stage, at -7.29 is the lowest it has been since 2006, but still 3 feet higher than the all time recorded low of -10.7 feet on 7/10/1988.  Contrast yesterday’s photo with this one taken in May.2011 of the same intersection with the river at near crest.

Beale and Riverside Drive at flood – river stage 47.9 feet and rising – May, 2011

That’s more than a 55 foot vertical difference!  And that’s a mighty wide river.

Here are historical record levels from the National Weather Service

Click here for more stats about the Mississippi River at Memphis.