hurricane agnes rainfall and floods, june-july 1972

414 Pages·2012·61.92 MB·English

HURRICANE AGNES RAINFALL AND FLOODS,
JUNE-JULY 1972
Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 924

HURRICANE AGNES
RAINFALL AND FLOODS,
JUNE-JULY 1972
By J. F. BAILEY and J. l. PATTERSON, U.S. Geological Survey and J. l. H. PAULHUS, National Weather Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 924
Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1975
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FREDERICK B. DENT, Secretary
V. E. McKelvey, Director NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Robert M. White, Administrator
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Patterson, James Lee.
Hurricane Agnes rainfall and floods, June-July 1972.
(Geological Survey professional paper; 924)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:924
1. Foods--Atlantic States. 2. Stream measurements--Atlantic States. 3. Atlantic States--Hurricane, 1972.
I. Bailey, James F., joint author. II. Paulhus, Joseph L. H., joint author. III. United States. Geological
Survey. IV. United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. V. Title. VI. Series: United
States. Geological Survey. Professional paper; 924.
GB1216.P37 557.3'08s [551.4'8] 75-619211
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington, D.C. 20402
FORE\VORD
The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service have a long history of
cooperation in monitoring and describing the Nation's water cycle-the movement of
water as atmospheric moisture, as precipitation, as runoff, as streamflow, as ground wa
ter, and finally, through evaporation, its return to the atmosphere to begin the cycle over
again. The cooperative effort has been a natural dovetailing of technical talent and re
sponsibility: the National Weather Service as the Federal agency responsible for moni
toring and predicting atmospheric moisture and precipitation, for forecasting river flow,
and for issuing warnings of destructive weather events; and the U.S. Geological Survey
as the primary agency for monitoring the quantity and quality of the earthbound water
resources, including both ground water and surface water.
This report represents another step in the growth of our cooperative efforts. In
some ways, this closer working arrangement has been spurred by five major flood dis
asters that have struck the Nation in the last 5 years. In August 1969, the remnants of
Hurricane Camille caused flooding of the James River and other streams in central Vir
ginia that left 152 people dead or missing. In February 1972, the failure of a coal-waste
dam sent a flood wave down the Buffalo Creek Valley of West Virginia, leaving 118
people dead or missing. On June 9, 1972, extremely heavy rains over the eastern Black
Hills of South Dakota produced record-breaking floods on Rapid Creek and other
streams, leaving 237 dead and 8 missing. Beginning on June 18, 1972, the remains of
Hurricane Agnes produced floods in the Eastern United States from Virginia to New
York that killed 117 people in what has been called the worst disaster in American
history. Most recently, the spring 1973 floods on the Mississippi River produced a rec
ord 89 days of floodflow at Vicksburg, Miss., and 78 days at St. Louis, Mo., inundated
more than 11 million acres of land, and damaged over 30,000 homes.
These disasters have underlined the need to know more about and respect the
force and flow of floodwater and have given impetus to further cooperation between
the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service to combine their respec
tive studies and information about flood events into single, unified reports. Hopefully,
this documentation of the Hurricane Agnes floods will aid the understanding of such flood
disasters and will help improve human preparedness for coping with future floods of a
similar catastrophic magnitude.
Joseph S. Cragwall, Jr. George P. Cressman
Chief Hydrologist Directm·
U.S. Geological Survey National Weather Service
Department of the Interior Department of Commerce
III

CONTENTS
Page Page
Abstract _____________________ -------_ ----------- 1 The floods-Continued
Introduction ______ --____ -_ ----_ ----_------------- 1 Ohio River basin-Continued
Acknowledgments ________ ------------________ _ 2 Kanawha River basin --------------------- 74
Glossary ------------------------------------- 3 Streams tributary to Lake Erie and Lake Ontario_ 75
Conversion factors ---------------------------- 4 Sedimentation ______________________ --__ --__ ---_ -- 76
Storm history ------------------------------------ 4 Flood-crest elevations ----------------------------- 78
Rainfall ----------------------------------------- 20 Effect of regulation ------------------------------ 79
Flood frequency ---------------------------------- 58 Susquehanna River basin --------------------- 79
The floods --------------------------------------- 57 Small basins tributary to Chesapeake Bay _____ _ 80
Streams tributary to Long Island Sound ______ _ 58 Roanoke River basin ------------------------- 80
Delaware River basin ------------------------ 58 Ohio River basin ----------------------------- 80
Susquehanna River basin ---------------------- 59 Streams tributary to Lake Ontario -------------- 81
Susquehanna River main stern ------------ 59 Determination of flood discharge ------------------- 81
Susquehanna River tributaries ------------ 60 Streamflow data at gaging stations and miscellaneous
Small basins tributary to Chesapeake Bay _____ _ 63 measuring sites ---------------------------- 82
Potomac River basin ------------------------- 65 Summary of peak stages and discharges -------- 82
Rappahannock River and York River basins ___ _ 68 Station description and discharge tables -------- 82
James River basin ---------------------------- 69 Deaths and damage ------------------------------ 83
Chowan River and Roanoke River basins ______ _ 72 Selected references ------------------------------- 86
Ohio River basin ----------------------------- 73 Streamflow data --------------------------------- 88
Allegheny River basin ----------------- 73 Index to streamflow data -------------------------- 358
Monongahela River basin ----------------- 74 Appendices -------------------------------------- 371
ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATE 1. Map showing area of report and location of flood-data sites, Middle Atlantic States _________ In pocket
FIGURE 1. Map showing storm track, June 14-23, 1972 --------------------------------------------------- 6
2. Composite satellite photographs showing development of Agnes near east coast of Yucatan on June
15 and June 16, 1972 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
3. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 17, 1972 ------------------------------------------------ 10
4. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 18, 1972 ------------------------------------------------- 11
5. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 19, 1972 ------------------------------------------------- 12
6. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 20, 1972 -------------------------------------------------- 13
7. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 21, 1972 ------------------------------------------------- 14
8. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 22, 1972 -------------------------------------------------- 15
9. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 23, 1972 -------------------------------------------------- 16
10. Synoptic situation at 0700 EST, June 24, 1972 -------------------------------------------------- 17
11. Pressure variation at selected stations along storm track___________________________________________ 21
12. Upper-air soundings at Cape Hatteras, N.C., June 19-22, 1972 ---------------------------------- 22
13. Upper-air soundings at Sterling, Va. (near Washington, D.C.), June 20-23, 1972 ---------------- 23
14. Upper-air soundings at New York, N.Y., June 20-23, 1972 ----------------------------------- 24
15-31. Maps showing:
15. Precipitation for May 1972 in percent of normal ------------------------------------- 25
16. Precipitation for June 1-15, 1972. in percent of normal --------------------------------- 25
17. Rainfall, in inches over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 16, 1972 26
18. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 17, 1972 27
19. Rainfall, in inches, over southern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 17, 1972_ 28
20. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 18, 1972 29
21. Rainfall, in inches, over southern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 18, 1972 30
22. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 19, 1972 31
v
VI CONTENTS
Figuers 15-31. Maps showing-Continued.
Page
23. Rainfall, in inches, over southern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 19, 1972 32
24. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 20, 1972 33
25. Rainfall, in inches, over southern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 20, 1972 34
26. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 21, 1972 35
27. Rainfall, in inches, over southern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 21, 1972 37
28. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 22, 1972 38
29. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 23, 1972 39
30. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 24, 1972 40
31. Rainfall, in inches, over northern section for 24-hour period ending 0700 EST, June 25, 1972 41
32. Mass rainfall curves for three stations in Pennsylvania and one in Virginia for the period June 20-
23, 1972 -----------------------------------·-------------------------------------------- 42
33. Mass rainfall curves for two stations in New York and two in Pennsylvania for the period June 20-
23, 1972. ---------------------------------·-------------------------------------------- 43
34. Map showing total storm precipitation for the period 6 p.m., June 19, through 6 p.m., June 23, 1972 46
35. Maximum discharge versus drainage area for known floods -------------------------------------- 57
36. Discharge hydrographs, Schuylkill River, June 21-28, 1972 ------------------------------------ 58
37. Discharge hydrographs, Susquehanna River, June 21-28, 1972 ---------------------------------- 59
38-44.Photographs showing:
38. Susquehanna River at Wyoming, Pa -----·-------------------------------------------- 60
39. Susquehanna River at Kingston, Pa --------------------------------------------------- 61
40. Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre, Pa ---·-------------------------------------------- 62
41. Susquehanna River at Enola, Pa ---------------------------------------------------- 63
42. Susquehanna River at City Island at Harrisburg, Pa --------------------------------- 64
43. Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa ----------------------------------------------- 65
44. Susquehanna River at Steelton, Pa ------·-------------------------------------------- 66
45. Dis.charge hydrographs, Susquehanna River basin, June 21-28, 1972 ---------------------------- 67
46. Discharge hydrographs, Potomac River, June 21-28, 1972------------------------------------------ 67
47-48. Photographs showing:
47. Occoquan River at Virginia State Highway 123 bridge at Occoquan, Va ---------------- 68
48. Occoquan River at Occoquan Dam at Occoquan, Va ---------------------------------- 69
49. Discharge hydrographs, Potomac River basin in Maryland, June 21-28, 1972 -------------------- 70
50. Discharge hydrographs, Potomac River basin in Virginia, June 21-24, 1972 --------------------- 70
51-52. Photographs showing:
51. James River at U.S. Highway 522 at Maiden, Va -------------------------------------- 71
52. James River at Mayos Bridge at Richmond, Va ---------------------------------------- 71
53. Discharge hydrographs, James River, June 21-28, 1972------------------------------------------ 72
54. Discharge hydrographs, Ohio River basin, June 21-30, 1972 ----------------------------------- 73
55. Discharge hydrographs, Genesee River, June 21-28, 1972------------------------------------------ 75
56-58. Photographs showing:
56. Erosion on flood plain of Susquehanna River at Old Fort, Pa ---------------------------- 76
57. Road washout in Shickshinny, Pa ---------------------------------------------------- 77
58. Deposition on farmland bordering Susquehanna River near Exeter, Pa ----------------- 78
59. Graph of water and sediment discharge, Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa., June 21-30, 1972__ 79
TABLES
Page
TABLE 1. Minimum sea-level pressure and maximum surface wind speeds at selected stations, June 18-25, 1972 18
2. High tides attributed to Agnes, June 18-22, 1972 ----------------------------------------------- 19
3. Maximum 6-, 12-, 24-, and 48-hour rainfall amounts at selected stations recording 24-hour amounts
of 10 or more inches during the period June 21-22, 1972 ----------------------------------- 44
4. Maximum depth-area-duration data for major tropical storm rainfall in the Eastern United States____ 44
5. Supplementary rainfall data for Northeastern United States for June 18-26, 1972 ----------------- 47
6. The 10 most destructive tropical cyclones in the United States since 1930 ------------------------- 83
7. U.S. deaths and damages attributed to Agnes -------------------------------------------------- 83
8. Classification of property damage _______________ -· __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _____ ___ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ ___ _ 84
Appendix A tables:
A-1. Summary of peak stages and discharges___________________________________________ 372
A-2. Flood-crest elevations, June 19, 1972, for streams in Westchester County, N.Y. and
southeast Connecticut ___________ -· __ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ ___ _ _ _ _ __ _ ___ _ ___ _ _ ___ _ __ _ 389
A-3. Flood-crest elevations, June 1972 ------------------------------------------------ 390
A-4. Flood-crest elevations, floods of 1936, 1969, and 1972, James River in Virginia _______ _ 396
CONTENTS VII
Page
TABLE A-5. Reservoir storage and peak flow reduction, June-July 1972, in the Susquehanna River
basin in New York and Pennsylvania ---------------------------------------- 397
A-6. Reservoir storage and peak-flow reduction, June-July 1972, in Roanoke River basin in
Virginia and North Carolina ------·-------------------------------------------- 398
A-7. Reservoir storage and peak flow reduction, June-July 1972, in the Ohio River basin in
New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia ----------------------------------- 399
A-8. Summary of historical and 1972 water and sediment discharge ------------------------ 400