NATCHEZ — Rainfall expected sometime next week should not have much of a significant effect on the river crest locally, but the National Weather Service is keeping an eye on a weather system forming in the west.

A weather system from the west is expected to move through the area, dropping some rain on Arkansas sometime Saturday, NWS Senior Hydrologist Marty Pope said.

“It is not going to really kick through this area until next Wednesday night,” he said. “It depends on how far west it sets up on how much (rain) we are going to get.”

While the rain is not expected to fall heavily locally, the NWS is nonetheless keeping an eye on the system and the further west it starts the better.

“It is one of those we are going to have to watch,” Pope said. “It isn’t local rain we are concerned about, it is rain up in Tennessee and the Ohio Valley – there is some potential for some heavy rain there, and it is going to depend on if it sets up over Oklahoma or Arkansas.”

The Tennessee and Ohio River valleys direct water into the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi River stands at 61.63 feet this afternoon and rising. The river is predicted to crest at 63 feet on Saturday.

Until flood worries wane, The Natchez Democrat will post daily river updates at noon and 5 p.m. Breaking news and other alerts will be posted throughout the day, as available. Also, a live feed of the Natchez river level is constantly updated 24-7 on our home page.

Send flood-related questions or submit flood photographs to newsroom@natchezdemocrat.com.