NEAR-RECORD FLOODING DOCUMENTED IN NORTHEAST

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 -- Flooding on major rivers in the northeastern U.S. during the past weekend, particularly in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, produced near-record flows according to measurements by the U.S. Geological Survey.

USGS scientists said that the Potomac River crested at a flow of 312,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Point of Rocks, Md., on Sunday (Jan. 21), near but not exceeding the level of 347,000 cfs reached in June of 1972 after rains from Hurricane Agnes.

Downstream at Washington, D.C., the Potomac also crested on Sunday at 347,000 cfs.

On Sat., Jan. 20, the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pa., crested at 570,000 cfs, well below the flow of 1 million cfs that was reached in June 1972 from Hurricane Agnes.

During floods, USGS flow data are used chiefly by the Corps of Engineers to manage water projects such as diversions, dams, locks and levees. The National Weather Service uses the data for flood warning and flood-forecasting purposes and the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses the data as part of its nationwide floodplain mapping and flood-insurance program.

A summary of flood stages and discharges for the Hudson, Delaware, Susquehanna, Alleghany, Ohio, Shenandoah, Potomac, and James Rivers follows:

  River            Date         River level       River Flow
                                                 (in cubic feet
                                (in feet)          per second)  

  Susquehana     Jan. 1996         34.43               221,000
  River,         June 1972         40.91               345,000
  Wilkes- 
  Barre, Pa.  

  Susquehanna   Jan. 1996          24.97               570,000
    River,      June 1972          32.57             1,020,000  
 Harrisburg 
 Pa.  

  Alleghany       Jan. 1996         20.31               130,000
  River,          Jan. 1959         29.60               175,000
 Parker, NY  

  Alleghany       Jan. 1996         23.58               174,000
  River,          March 1936        32.06               365,000
  Natrona, Pa.  

  Ohio River,     Jan. 1996         34.75               574,000
  Sewickley,      March 1936        33.20               369,000
  Pa.  

  Ohio River,     Jan. 1996         55.30               440,000
  Greenup         Feb. 1979         59.19               515,000
  Dam, Ky. 
  (near Ashland) 

  South Fork      Jan. 1996         24.90                79,500 
  Shenandoah      Oct. 1942         34.80                114,000
River, Front 
  Royal, Va.  

  North Fork      Jan. 1996         27.83                66,400 
  Shenandoah      Oct. 1942         31.20                100,000
  River, 
  Strasburg, 
  Va.  

  Shenandoah      Jan. 1996         23.61                120,400
  River,          Oct. 1942         32.40                230,000
  Millville, 
  Va. (near 
  Harpers 
  Ferry)  

  Potomac         Jan. 1996         36.50                312,000
  River, Point    March 1936        41.03                480,000
  of Rocks, Md.  

  Hudson River,   Jan. 1996         11.85                79,800 
  Hadley, N.Y.    Jan. 1979         21.21                42,700  

  Hudson River,   Jan. 1996         26.24                167,000
  Green Island,   May 1936          29.48                215,000
  N.Y. (near 
  Albany)  

  Delaware        Jan. 1996         18.36                134,000
  River, Port     Feb. 1981         26.61              (Not known) 
  Jervis, N.Y.  

  Delaware        Jan. 1996         22.20                179,000
  River,          March 1904        30.60              (Not known) 
  Trenton, N.J.  

  Potomac         Jan. 1996         19.31                347,000
  River,          March 1936        28.10                484,000
  Washington, 
  D.C.  

  James River,    Jan. 1996         26.02                (not yet 
  Scottsville,                                          available)
  Va.             June 1972         34.02                301,000

  James River,    Jan. 1996         26.40                124,000
  Cartersville,   June 1972         37.87                362,000
  Va. 

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