Heavy flooding could return to the midwest this week with rain predicted to pummel the US region, forecasters warn.

Floods were unleashed last week by a ‘bomb cyclone’ storm, forcing thousands from their homes in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, killing at least three.

Although floodwaters have receded in recent days, more damage is possible as spring rains arrive and more snow in northern states melts and flows into rivers.

The National Weather Service predicts that eastern Nebraska and western Iowa could receive up to two inches of rain from Wednesday to Friday.

That much rain would certainly send river levels higher, creating problems for homes behind levees that were weakened in the initial flooding.

Winter weather – in pictures Show all 47 1 /47 Winter weather – in pictures Winter weather – in pictures US-Canada Water flows around ice, formed on the American Falls in Niagara Falls, due to subzero temperatures, viewed from the Canadian side, in Ontario Reuters Winter weather – in pictures The Netherlands The first snow of the year fell across the Netherlands on 22 January, 2019 EPA/KOEN VAN WEEL Winter weather – in pictures France Tourists are pictured in the Tuileries garden as snow falls over Paris AFP/Getty Images Winter weather – in pictures US Workers deice a Southwest Airline aircraft at Midway Airport in Chicago Getty Images Winter weather – in pictures Russia Amateur rugby players participate in a "snow rugby" tournament at Moscow's suburb of Zelenograd AFP/Getty Images Winter weather – in pictures Germany Tourists stand on a view point at the 1838 metres high Wendelstein mountain near Bayrischzell, Bavaria EPA Winter weather – in pictures Belgium Roofs are seen snow-covered near the Cinquantenaire Park in Brussels Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Nepal A woman tries to catch snowflakes with her tongue during a snowfall on Chandragiri Hills in Kathmandu Reuters Winter weather – in pictures UK A bus drives through a snow shower in London EPA Winter weather – in pictures Ukraine A woman shields herself under an umbrella during a heavy snowfall in central Kiev Reuters Winter weather – in pictures US-Canada Ice and snow cover branches near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, due to subzero temperatures in Niagara Falls Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Ukraine People cross a road during a heavy snowfall in central Kiev Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Germany Workers de-ice parts on a classic steam locomotive AP Winter weather – in pictures Lebanon Snow covered mountains of the Cedars area in the Lebanese mountains AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Czech Republic A man with a snow cutter cleans a road during a heavy snowfall in Velka Upa, Giant Mountains AP Winter weather – in pictures Germany A track vehicle of the German army provides food to a village near Berchtesgaden AP Winter weather – in pictures South Korea Tourists view snow-covered trees on Jeju Island EPA Winter weather – in pictures Germany A man walks through piles of snow in the pedestrian zone in the city center of Berchtesgaden Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Austria A cat playing in the snow in Ramsau am Dachstein AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Germany A snowplough train is seen during heavy snowfalls in Miesbach Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Russia A woman walks in a park in the Moscow suburb AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Germany A no trespassing sign stands in the snow at the train station in Berchtesgaden Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Austria A man cleans a path at a cemetery from snow AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Poland Snow covers a Jesus Christ figure near Szczyrk Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Austrian-German border A military helicopter monitors the situation at the Austrian-German border at Kufstein AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Germany Two workers clean a pathway next to a regional train at the train station in Berchtesgaden Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Austria A man shovels snow on a rooftop during heavy snowfall in Filzmoos Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Austria A man clearing his car from the snow after heavy snowfalls in Ramsau AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures India A Kashmiri boy rides a sleigh during a snowfall in Gagangeer AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Switzerland A sea of fog from the Moleson mountain in the canton of Fribourg EPA Winter weather – in pictures Germany Workers try to clear rail tracks after heavy snowfalls in Schaftlach, near Munich Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Britain A train travels through rural Bath PA Winter weather – in pictures Switzerland A swam swims on the river Rhine in Schaffhausen AP Winter weather – in pictures Finland People walk in snow-covered streets of the city of Outokumpu amid snowfalls EPA Winter weather – in pictures Greece Girls play with the snow outside during a heavy snowfall in Hortiatis AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Turkey Istanbul's Camlica mosque on the Asian side of the Bosphorus AFP/Getty Winter weather – in pictures Russia People take a picture in the Siberian taiga forest Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Belarus People walk in the park as snow falls in Minsk AP Winter weather – in pictures Russia Trees covered with snow and hoarfrost on the island on Yenisei river d Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Greece Snow covers some parts of the ancient Acropolis hill and Plaka the tourist district of Athens AP Winter weather – in pictures Austria A snow-covered car is seen at a parking lot EPA Winter weather – in pictures Switzerland A sea of fog from the Moleson mountain in the canton of Fribourg EPA Winter weather – in pictures India A man walks through a paddy field during snowfall on a cold winter morning in Pattan, north of Srinagar Reuters Winter weather – in pictures India epa07258344 Kashmiri boys walk on a snow covered hill in Tangmarg, some 30 kilometers north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, 02 January 2019. With the first snowfall this year, frozen waters experienced thaw. Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the only road linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was stopped after snowfall, according to local news reports. EPA/FAROOQ KHAN FAROOQ KHAN EPA Winter weather – in pictures Greece Snow covers the statue of Alexander the Great at the seaside promenade of Thessaloniki Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Russia Fishermen walk along the frozen Yenisei river in the Siberian taiga area Reuters Winter weather – in pictures Greece People enjoy the snow at a park in northern Athens AP

“We’re not done yet and I think that’s the other thing that we want to make sure folks are watching very closely,” Iowa’s agriculture secretary Mike Naig said.

Meteorologist Bryon Miller said the good news is that the river crests following this week’s forecast storm will likely be lower than during recent floods.

“It doesn’t look like it will be anywhere near the crests we saw at the height of this,” said Miller.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

The Mississippi river is expected to keep rising in the Minnesota capital of St. Paul this week after reaching major flood stage yesterday morning.

About half a dozen roads in the city are closed, as well as several parks and boat launches.