The Mississippi River was last closed in 2019 due to high water levels, causing significant disruptions.

In 2019, the Mississippi River was closed due to exceptionally high water levels, which led to navigation disruptions and flooding along its banks. The river's closure, caused by heavy rainfall and snowmelt, particularly affected barge traffic, an important aspect of the U.S. economy. This closure highlighted the vulnerability of the river's infrastructure and the challenges posed by extreme weather events on waterway management and regional economies.