The Rondezvous will continue as planned, despite the rising Mississippi.

The Mississippi River continued to rise Thursday as its already flooded tributaries poured into it. Heavy rains also helped to ensure that the nation’s largest river will continue to rise near Prairie du Chien.

The National Weather Service also increased the expected crest stage, predicting that it will reach 17.8 feet on Monday. The new estimate is over a foot higher than their last figure. The previous prediction said the Mississippi would end it’s rise today at 16.5feet. Flood stage for the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien, Marquette, and McGregor is 16 feet.

Rising waters caused concern for the city of Prairie du Chien, which is hosting it’s annual Rondezvous on St. Feriole Island. City crews began work Wednesday to ensure that the Washington Street entrance to the island remained open. Without the preliminary work water would have been standing on parts of the road today. The island’s only other road entrance is Blackhawk Avenue, where access is already limited by planned construction.

Prairie du Chien Mayor Karl Steiner said that the annual event would remain open and that the city would continue to work on maintaining access to St. Feriole Island. The Jaycess and Big River Long Rifles also announced that they would sponsor shuttle busses to bring people to the event to ease traffic congestion and save the saturated ground normally used for event parking. However, if the Mississippi rises to 18 feet, above the predicted crest, the island will have to be evacuated.

The Rondezvous, one of Prairie du Chien’s biggest attractions, began today and continues through Sunday. The event features the re-enactment of the Fur Trading era environment, recreating life as it was in 1840’s when Prairie du Chien was the hub of the fur trade.

Heavy rains cause severe flash flooding for southern Grant County.

The heaviest rains in the area fell on Potosi, Lancaster, and Livingston in southern Grant County. Flash floods immediately impacted travel as water gathered on roadways. More than 30 roads were closed, including Wisconsin 81 between Platteville and Lancaster. In addition to the Flash Flood Warning, part of the county was under a Tornado Warning as tornados were spotted east of Platteville.

Grant county was put under a state of emergency Thursday afternoon with many roads remaining closed.