Appendix A—Flood‐ and drought‐events

Abstract

Forty‐four more or less distinct flood‐events are listed chronologically in Table 1. A flood‐event as used herein is a flood of such magnitude as to be newsworthy. Any event may or may not have been associated with a single meteorological disturbance. It will be noted on Figure 1 that these events occurred during three more or less distinct periods and frequently are grouped on an areal basis. Twelve of the events occur between March and November, 1941, 28 between March, 1942, and August, 1943, and three during January, February, and March, 1944. There was almost a complete absence of flood‐events during 18 of the 40 months. Nation‐wide, December, 1942, was the wettest with respect to departure of stream‐flow from normal. Seven of the 44 flood‐events were associated with high temperatures, melting snow, and rain. Fourteen were widespread and record‐breaking and confined most generally to the central and southeastern states. The remaining 23 events were generally of a local nature but many broke existing records. Geographically the largest number of events were in the central part of the United States embracing Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa and adjacent areas, and another is now in progress (May, 1944). Oregon was an exception so far as the West was concerned, with continuous flood‐events from November, 1942, to April, 1943. Events No. 36 (May, 1943) and 44 (April, 1944) are probably of greatest National importance and Nos. 19 and 20 (July, 1942) and No. 41 (August, 1943) of greatest local importance and are of special significance in that precipitation‐rates may have set new limits for storm‐magnitudes.