Your Local Weather Expert Dave Nussbaum explains why a flood warning was issued for New Orleans, and what it means for residents.

NEW ORLEANS — The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Mississippi River at New Orleans until Saturday, March 16. If you live in the metro area and received a weather alert on your phone, it may have caused some concern.

Here's what that flood warning means to you:

Heavy rain and melting snow across the Ohio and Tennessee River Valleys have drained into those respective rivers and will then drain into the Mississippi River. This has caused the Mississippi River to rise to and above flood stage earlier than the typical Spring flood season. All of this water will move down to New Orleans over the next few weeks.

The river will rise to flood stage of 17.0 feet at the New Orleans Carrollton gauge by Wednesday, March 13th. Fortunately, the City of New Orleans is protected to 20.0 feet with the levees. The river is expected to rise to remain near the flood stage of 17.0 feet through the end of March. It is likely the river will remain high for much of April as well thanks to the heavy rain and eventual snow melt across the Missouri, Tennessee and Ohio River Valleys.

When the river gets this high the NWS Baton Rouge/New Orleans and the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center has to issue a River Flood Warning since we are going to be at the flood stage.

When you see that a river will get to its flood stage, you normally get concerned. However, the Mississippi River is not designed to be like our local rivers. It has levees and they protect us to 20.0 feet. The main impact for us will just be on river navigation and docking vs. any over-topping of the levees.

Additionally, if the river is forecast to get to a higher level, the Bonnet Carre' Spillway and, if needed, the Morganza Spillway, are opened to protect the city of New Orleans from flooding. Of course, this is why the Bonnet Carre' Spillway was opened this year and will stay open for around a month.

The flood warning for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes is set to expire on March 16.