Charleston, Missouri - The Mississippi County Sheriff's Department that the levee between Bird's Point - New Madrid is now closed to traffic until the river stages return to below 43 feet at Cairo and 34 feet at New Madrid.

They must maintain these precautions so no unnecessary strain is put on the levee.

The National Weather Service is now predicting the river will crest at 51 feet at Cairo on May 6th, which is well above the 40 foot flood stage. At New Madrid the river will reach 47 feet, 14.8 feet above flood stage, on May 7th.