VIDALIA — The barge drop during the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race may be a little easier this year.

During the competition, balloonists will try to drop a beanbag onto a target on a barge in the middle of the river, which today is expected to stand at 38.90 feet. The flight will only occur if weather permits.

The historic normal stage for this time of year is approximately 14 feet, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“They won’t have to drop as far off of the bluff to drop for the barges because the barge will be higher in the river,” GMRBR Press Relations Director Sally Durkin said.

In fact, the river stage is so much higher than normal that the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for some areas.

Flood stage for the Natchez-Vidalia pass is 48 feet above gauge zero.

“You don’t have to get a technical flood on the Mississippi River to get flood problems,” NWS Hydrologist Marty Pope said.

“The river will remain below flood stage, however wildlife, fishing and industry between the levee systems will be affected.”

The rise on the river has been caused by significant rainfall — between six and eight inches — in Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana, and over the Arkansas River basin in the last week-and-a-half, Pope said.

The river typically falls low at this time of year and experiences a rise in December, before dropping and then rising again in the spring, Pope said.

“Because of this, this year we could potentially have three rises,” he said.

Meanwhile, because of the high water boaters who put in on the river to watch the balloon races this weekend need to practice extra caution, Durkin said.

“The problem is with the debris in the water,” she said. “When the water has risen it pulls all the debris out of the back water areas, so it makes for a nasty environment.

Adams County Sheriff Angie Brown also urged caution.

“With the weather like it is, they might want to pay attention to the wind and the water,” Brown said.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Lt. Scott Watson said that anyone on the water should have a personal floatation device such as a lifejacket.