Hannibal Hill, Center St. Flood Gates Installed Friday

A rise in the forecast for river levels in the coming days has prompted the decision to install two of Hannibal’s downtown flood gates.

Hannibal Emergency Management Director John Hark announced the city would set the flood gates at Hill and Center Streets at 2 p.m. Friday.

Hark says the gates are going in as a precaution because the latest forecast calls for the Mississippi at Hannibal to rise to 20.7 feet by Monday evening, with more rain in the forecast through Saturday night.

The rule is that the Hill and Center Street flood gates go in when the National Weather Service forecast calls for the river to rise above 20.5 feet.