The water level in Mopti has increased to 657 cm on 12 October. That is the highest water level measured on this date since 1999 and thus even higher than the water level measured on this date in two years with an extremely high flood, namely 2016 and 2018. In 2016 the maximum flood was reached early in the season on 14 October with a peak of 657 cm, but in 2018 the water continued to rise until 23 October, reaching a peak of 670 cm. The water level has increased only 7 cm last week which may be a first indication that the rise of the water level has slow down and will rise not much more. Hence OPIDIN predicts that the flood level will reach its peak in Mopti may-be already next week and the peak water level will be higher than 2016 but possible not higher than 2018.
The peak in Mopti will be reached in the second half of October and the flood will be at its maximum in Akka half November. Based on the current prediction, the south-western part of the Inner Niger Delta may become available for grazing cattle in December. Using the relationship between peak flood level in Mopti and the annual date when the cows are allowed to enter the Inner Niger Delta at Diafarabé, it is expected that the cattle can cross the river at Diafarabé in the first half of December.
