Forecasts, apprehension and flood maps

So Cedar Rapids is preparing for the Cedar River's 11th-highest crest. At least that's what's expected at this point by the National Weather Service:

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR

THE CEDAR RIVER AT CEDAR RAPIDS.

* UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* AT 5:00 AM THURSDAY THE STAGE WAS 14.0 FEET...AND RISING.

* FLOOD STAGE IS 12 FEET.

* MODERATE FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MAJOR FLOODING IS FORECAST.

* FORECAST...RISE TO 18.1 FEET SATURDAY. FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE

WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* IMPACT...AT 18 FEET...WATER REACHES THE BOTTOM OF THE RAILROAD

BRIDGE ALONG 8TH AVENUE IN CEDAR RAPIDS.

(Updated forecasts are at the end of the post)

So what's 18.1 feet look like? I plugged it into the flood inundation maps created by the Iowa Flood Center. The maps measure flooding in half-foot increments, so here's what 18.5 looks like:

As the article linked above mentions, 18.1 is nothing the city can't handle. Some problems, but manageable ones.

But thunderstorms are forecast for the next couple of days or so in the Cedar watershed. So what happens if things change? Unlikely, but what if?

Here's 21.5 feet:

Water gets into the New Bohemia neighborhood at around 21 feet. Which is probably why New Bo Market is doing some preventative sandbagging today.

And because this is only harmless computer-generated water, here's 24.5:

And things get scary. Sorry. But remember, it's just pixels. As we all know, Cedar River floodwater is not a delightful blue.

That 18.1 forecast is significant enough to make me a little apprehensive. I'm betting I'm not alone. No reason for undue alarm, certainly, but after what this community went through, it's tough for your mind to not go there. Let's just hope the river doesn't.

UPDATE -- The NWS is now forecasting a 19.8-foot crest on Saturday.

UPDATE II -- Here's the 3:35 p.m. NWS flood warning update:

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR

THE CEDAR RIVER AT CEDAR RAPIDS.

* UNTIL WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* AT 3:00 PM THURSDAY THE STAGE WAS 16.5 FEET...AND RISING.

* FLOOD STAGE IS 12 FEET.

* MAJOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE.

* FORECAST...RISE TO 19.9 FEET SATURDAY EVENING. FALL BELOW FLOOD

STAGE WEDNESDAY MORNING.

* IMPACT...AT 20 FEET...WATER REACHES THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAIRS FERRY

ROAD BRIDGE DECK.