# Mississippi River experiencing low water levels thanks to lack of rain in northern Minnesota, fueled by climate change

> Low water levels on the Mississippi River from northern Minnesota to northern Illinois have caused transport problems. Only one barge at a time can pass certain stretches, and some barges have grounded on sandbars. Officials said the lower flows are linked to a lack of rain that scientists say is likely driven by climate change.

- Date: 2021-07-26 · published 2021-07-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: logistics · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/45958-mississippi-river-experiencing-low-water-levels-thanks-to-lack-of-rain-in
- Commodities: [Barge Freight (St. Louis)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BARGE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Single-file barge traffic and groundings reduce barge capacity and push up freight costs for grain moving from the Upper Mississippi to Gulf export positions. Those costs feed into basis and feed ingredient prices in the Midwest.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: neutral
- BARGE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CORN | 2021-06-23 | [Low water levels in the Mississippi River create issues for commercial boating - DredgeWire : DredgeWire](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46469-low-water-levels-in-the-mississippi-river-create-issues-for-commercial-boating.md) | +2.8% | -5.4% |
| CORN | 2024-02-23 | [Mississippi River levels return to normal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/16563-mississippi-river-levels-return-to-normal.md) | +0.1% | +7.0% |
| CORN | 2021-06-23 | [Mississippi River Barge Traffic Slowed By Lower Water Levels \| State News \| voiceofalexandria.com](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46472-mississippi-river-barge-traffic-slowed-by-lower-water-levels-state-news.md) | +2.8% | -5.4% |
| CORN | 2019-02-26 | [Extreme water flows on the Mississippi River - The Swedish Club](https://feedsoft.ai/events/60483-extreme-water-flows-on-the-mississippi-river-the-swedish-club.md) | -1.5% | +0.9% |
| CORN | 2019-03-21 | [Northern snow melt could delay grain shipping on the Mississippi River - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/59980-northern-snow-melt-could-delay-grain-shipping-on-the-mississippi-river.md) | -1.2% | -4.1% |

## Sources

- jsonline.com: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2021/07/26/mississippi-river-low-water-levels-linked-climate-change/8012976002/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.