Atlantic: Hurricane Joaquin, located near the Bahamas on Sept. 30, grew to a Category 4 storm on Oct. 1. Forecasts called for Joaquin to turn northward and skim the Eastern U.S. before making landfall between North Carolina and New Jersey on Oct. 4. Wind and flooding were predicted for wherever Joaquin makes landfall.
The NHC was also monitoring an area of potential development in the Central Atlantic last week. Forecasts gave the system a 60 percent chance of further development, but models predicted the storm would remain over open water.
U.S. Gulf: Travel through Algiers Lock was put at 2-4 hours for the week as vessels continue to detour through the West Canal while work is underway at Bayou Sorrel Lock. Shippers have staged barges in the canal to speed transit, and were stationing vessels throughout the area to speed locking operations.
Bayou Sorrel Lock is offline through Nov. 15 for dewatering, repairs, and maintenance. Industrial Lock delays were reported at 8-10 hours for the week with seven boats reported in the queue, and Port Allen Lock transit times were put at approximately one hour.
Declining river levels at Baton Rouge extended a Low Water Safety Advisory for Miles 167-303 for another week. The advisory is projected to remain in place until Baton Rouge levels rise above the 12-foot mark. The Baton Rouge river gauge read 9.0 feet and falling on Oct. 1, while New Orleans showed 3.9 feet and holding.
Dolphin construction continued on the east side of Calcasieu Lock, causing intermittent daytime backups for Monday-through-Friday navigation. Additionally, westbound vessels were restricted to singlewide tows until work concludes on Oct. 16.
Lower Mississippi River: Low water on the Lower Mississippi River affected transit again last week, shippers reported. Diminished rainfall totals have left the river gauge at Memphis firmly in the negatives in recent weeks, with river depths showing (-)1.5 feet on Oct. 1. Forecasts expected the gauge to hit (-)1.7 feet on Oct. 2.
Dredging operations were underway at Miles 482-485, and shippers warned of potential unscheduled channel closures. The Corps anticipated operations would continue through Oct. 7.
Mile 914 revetment scheduled for Sept. 27 through Oct. 2 and Oct. 5-7 could affect transit, sources said, with traffic potentially limited to single-direction travel at times.
Weir dike construction and mat-laying operations were scheduled for Mile 418 on Nov. 7-17, with intermittent daytime delays expected.
Upper Mississippi River: Shippers put Lock 27 wait times at 2-4 hours for the week, with four boats in the queue. No waiting was reported at Lock 20. The Lock 27 auxiliary chamber was offline between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Sept. 29-30.
Northbound barges leaving from New Orleans and destined for ports between McGregor, Iowa, and Minneapolis, Minn., were advised to depart no later than Sept. 28 to avoid winter demurrage. Boats headed for Quincy, Ill., through McGregor have through Oct. 5.
Southbound departures leaving from Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., are scheduled to run through Nov. 14, and through Nov. 23 for southbound vessels out of McGregor.
Seasonal Lock closures begin on Dec. 7 with Lock 9, followed by Locks 14 and 17 on Dec. 14. Locks 13 and 21 are scheduled to close on Jan. 4, 2016.
Illinois River: Operations returned to normal at Lockport Lock last week after dangerous flows limited lockings to two barges the week before. Lockport is scheduled to shut down Oct. 6-7.
Dresden Island Lock will go offline during morning hours on Oct. 6, and Brandon Road Lock will be closed on Oct. 20-22 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Ohio River: Lock 52 main chamb