North Missouri is fighting significant flooding in a wide area because of persistent and sometimes heavy rains that have rivers and creeks out of the channels and have put Mark Twain Lake at a record level.

Chariton County Sheriff Chris Hughes says his county is "a mess," with parts of three highways closed and segments of lesser roads blocked by high water. He says some people have left their homes and thousands of acres of farmland has been flooded, some of it for a second time this year.

Mark Twain Lake is closed to boaters because of high waters and floating debris. Corps of Engineers spokesman Mary Ann Heitmeyer says the Clarence Cannon Dam, which creates the lake, is releasing 50,000 cubic feet of water every second–about 374,000 gallons a second—and the Corps is thinking of increasing the flow to 78,000 cubic feet of water every second.

Ralls County Sheriff Paul Forney says his deputies have warned about 30 households along the Salt River below the dam to evacuate because the outflow from Mark Twain Lake will cause major rises in the river.