Memphis braces for worse flooding as Mississippi rises – in pictures

The Mississippi river crested in Memphis at nearly 48 feet on Tuesday, falling short of its all-time record but soaking low-lying areas Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

A flooded residential area in Memphis, as seen through a fisheye lens Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

An industrial facility in Memphis Photograph: DAN ANDERSON/EPA

Darrell Evans and Jermaine Jarrett paddle a boat down a flooded street in Memphis Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Trash floating outside flooded homes Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP

People look on as water is released through the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco, Louisiana, to lower river levels Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

A man looks out over the Bonnet Carre Spillway, which is opened only when the river gets dangerously high Photograph: Julie Dermansky/Corbis

Flooding in Norco near the Bonnet Carre Spillway Photograph: Julie Dermansky/Corbis

Signs submerged at a trailer park in Memphis Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters

Floodwaters in the West Junction area of Memphis Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

A satellite image of the flooding Photograph: MODIS/Aqua/NASA

The Mississippi at Beale Street in Memphis on Sunday Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP

Two kayakers paddle down the Mississippi Photograph: Wade Payne/AP

Floodwaters at the bottom of Beale Street in Memphis Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP

A woman wades through rising floodwaters in Memphis Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters

A man looks at flooded homes in Finley, Missouri Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters

A flooded house in Memphis Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Volunteers fill sandbags to fight against rising floodwaters Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Workers from Memphis Light Gas & Water use sandbags to reinforce a floodgate across Chelsea Avenue Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

The Pyramid Arena in Memphis, which is protected by a floodwall Photograph: Jeff Roberson/AP

Tommy Smith sits in front of B&B Recycled Auto Parts in Memphis Photograph: ERIC THAYER/REUTERS

Motorists on Interstate 40 pass over the rising Mississippi as the sun sets over downtown Memphis Photograph: Mark Weber/AP

Junk cars sit submerged in floodwaters in Memphis Photograph: Keystone USA-ZUMA/ Rex Features

Homes on Mud Island, usually high above the water level, meet the rising waters Photograph: Lance Murphey/AP

William Stephens carries cinder blocks from a flooded storage area in Memphis Photograph: Mike Brown/AP