Davenport, IA – Residents across the Quad Cities should remain on high alert as Flood Warnings continue for the Mississippi and Wapsipinicon rivers, with water levels expected to rise through the midweek. While Tuesday offers a warm, mostly sunny afternoon with a high of 79 degrees, the calm weather is masking a significant hydrologic threat. The Mississippi River at Rock Island is forecast to reach a crest of 16.0 feet by Thursday morning, which is enough to submerge sidewalks along the river in LeClaire Park and impact low-lying streets in the 6700 block of River Drive.
According to the National Weather Service in Quad Cities, minor to moderate flooding is occurring across several counties, including Scott, Rock Island, and Muscatine. Beyond the rising water, a new atmospheric threat arrives late Thursday. A 90 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop Thursday night, potentially dropping heavy rain on already saturated basins. Forecasters have placed the region under a level 1 of 5 risk for severe weather, with damaging winds and large hail possible as a cold front sweeps through.
The transition will be blustery, with southwesterly wind gusts hitting 25 mph this afternoon. These winds will help push temperatures toward 81 degrees by Thursday before a sharp cooling trend arrives Friday. Commuters on I-80 and the Government Bridge should prepare for a messy and slow-moving drive Thursday evening, as the combination of intense rainfall and lingering river flooding could lead to unpredictable road closures in flood-prone zones.
Conditions are expected to remain unsettled through Friday afternoon, with a 50 percent chance of lingering showers. Property owners near riverbanks are urged to maintain flood mitigation efforts, as the Wapsipinicon River near De Witt is also expected to crest near 12.4 feet Wednesday morning. Stay alert for rapidly changing water levels and road conditions as the Thursday storm window approaches.
Five Day Forecast for Davenport, IA
- Tuesday: Mostly Sunny and Breezy, High 79
- Wednesday: Sunny, High 79
- Thursday: Mostly Sunny then Showers Likely, High 81
- Friday: Chance Showers then Mostly Sunny, High 72
- Saturday: Mostly Sunny, High 68
