How extreme were the 1995 flood waves on the rivers Rhine and Meuse?

Abstract

In recent years, dramatic floods have occurred all over the world. The 1993 and 1995 events at the rivers Rhine and Meuse are examples of such flooding. In 1995, the weather conditions were such that, in the Netherlands, peak discharges at Lobith and Borgharen were registered equal to 12,060 and 2,900 m 3/s respectively. In the paper, the current frequency models are described, and according to these models, the two peak discharges occur on an average once in 80 and 100 years respectively. However, under influence of both the events of 1993 and 1995, an adaptation of the frequency models is necessary. As a result, the frequencies of exceeding the 1995 events will increase; the design peak discharges at the earlier mentioned gauging stations will rise too, from 15,000 and 3,650 m 3/s to 16,050 and 3,935 m 3/s respectively.