The Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau should be below flood stage by Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

The river is expected to be at 36.1 feet on the gauge today at Cape Girardeau, down nearly a foot from Friday. The river should fall to 34.8 feet by Sunday and 33.6 feet on Monday, the service said.

Flood stage here is 32 feet.

"It ought to be low enough to open the Themis Street gate Saturday," said Jesse McLain of the Main Street Levee District.

The Broadway floodgate was opened Thursday as the river continued its fall, he said.

The Ohio River didn't crest at Cairo, Ill., as expected Thursday. A new crest of 55.8 feet on the Cairo gauge is expected Sunday. That would put it 15.8 feet above flood stage.

The Ohio is forecast for 55.7 feet at Cairo today, up three-tenths of a foot from Friday.

"It's difficult to predict the amount of rain that will be absorbed into the ground and what will drain off into the river," said Bob Anderson of the Memphis District of the Corps of Engineers. "But it's nothing to worry about yet. Everything's still holding up real well in Cairo."

The Corps will remain at Phase II of its flood operations until the Ohio recedes to 49 feet. That is not expected to happen for several days, Anderson said.

The river and levees are being closely monitored, he said. The Corps is also providing technical assistance and material to communities. People are also patrolling the levees, he said.

Field offices have been set up in Cairo, Caruthersville, Cape Girardeau and Dyersburg, Tenn., putting 28 Corps emergency workers in the field, he said.