Floods in the United States: 2001-present
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Floods in the United States are generally caused by excessive rainfall, excessive snowmelt, and dam failure. Below is a list of flood events that were of significant impact to the country, since 2001.
[edit] Decade of the 2000s
[edit] Tropical Storm Allison floods in Louisiana and Texas - June 2001
The remains of the tropical cyclone sat and spun over eastern Texas for several days before moving eastward just inland of the Gulf coast. Heavy rains fell along the western Gulf coast that week, with storm totals of near 940 mm (37 in) near Houston and 1041mm (41 in) west of Beaumont. Damage from the storm was estimated near US$6 billion (2001 dollars), and 41 perished from the flood. [1]
[edit] Hurricane Katrina (2005) storm surge - Louisiana and Mississippi
A large category 3 hurricane at landfall along the southeast tip of Louisiana, strong northerly flow behind Katrina while weakening to category 1 strength caused breaks and failures in the levees that protected the lower Ninth Ward and along other canals in New Orleans, flooding 80 percent of the city for nearly a month. The mouth of the Mississippi River saw breaks in its levee system due to storm surge. In Mississippi, a massive storm surge destroyed most structures along the coast including floating casinos, and preliminary figures show that the storm surge was higher than in Hurricane Camille of 1969. [2] There were 1,836 fatalities, mostly from flooding.
[edit] Mid-Atlantic and New England Flood - October 2005
The combination of a moisture fetch set up by Subtropical Depression 22 and Tropical Storm Tammy, as well as an additional tropical disturbance which rode up a stationary frontal zone, set up excessive rains from coastal sections of the Mid-Atlantic states through southern New England. In New Hampshire, the Monadnock region was affected, with Alstead among the hardest hit as 300 mm (12 in) of rain fell within 30 hours, allowing this month to be the wettest in the history of the Granite State. It was considered a once in 500 year flood event.[3]
[edit] Ka Loko Reservoir - March 2006
Prolonged rains fell across Hawaii between February 19 and April 2, 2006 as upper cyclones kept closing off northwest of the archipelago, virtually eliminating their normal trade winds, and bringing some of the wettest conditions seen for the 50th state since March 1951. Four of the cyclones were kona lows. The heavy rain event of March 1 to March 3 brought severe flooding to the east-facing slopes of the Koolau Range in Oahu, with 571 mm (22.47 in) falling in two days at Punalu'u. During the next rain event from March 8 to March 11, many of the larger islands received significant rain. Flash flooding occurred in Maakua Stream, and severe inundation impacted communities from Laie to Kahana. As much as 356 mm (14 in) of rain fell over north Kauai, forcing the closure of Kuhio Highway at the Hanalei Bridge for the second time in 24-hours. 150-255 mm (6-10 in)of rain fell upon the southeast-facing slopes of the Big Island causing numerous road closures in Hilo. North and east Kauai experiences 200-300 mm (8-12 in) of rain over a 3 day period. Mount Waialeale recorded over 711 mm (28 in) during this 4-day period. The Kauai Marriott Resort suffered significant damage due to the overflow of Keonaawanui Stream during the early morning hours of March 11. The third significant rain event between March 13 and March 18 were too much for Ka Loko Dam in northeast Kauai, which failed during the early morning of March 14. The wall of water swept away homes and structures and resulted in 3 confirmed deaths and 4 persons missing. Repeated thunderstorms and heavy rains produced numerous road closures from flooding and inundated many properties. [4]
[edit] Mid-Atlantic Flood - June 2006
A stalled frontal boundary, a tropical connection, and a developing tropical disturbance led to heavy rains across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, particularly in central Maryland and Pennsylvania during late June. Rainfall amounts ranged up to 430 mm (17 in) during the several days of heavy rain. There was threat of dam failure around an earthen dam around Lake Needwood in eastern Montgomery County, Maryland, due to the deluge.
[edit] Western Gulf Coast flood - October 2006
A trio of heavy rainfall events, on October 14-17, October 18-19[5], and again from October 26-27 set the stage for moderate to significant flooding across portions of eastern Texas, Louisiana, as well as portions of Arkansas and Mississippi.[6] This was the wettest spell for the region since T.S. Allison of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season.[7] Two of these events were fed by tropical cyclones from the 2006 Pacific Hurricane Season, Norman and Paul, which impacted western Mexico. Each rainfall event led to localized maxima in excess of 250 mm (10 in), and helped break a dry spell across the region. Localized totals ranged up to 711 mm (28 in) near Kountze, Texas during the 13 day period from October 14 through October 27.
[edit] Washington State Flood - November 2006
Severe flooding in Washington state closed Mount Rainier National Park and damaged several mountain towns, including North Bend.
[edit] 2007 Midwest flooding - August 2007
A stalled frontal boundary stretching from Iowa to Ohio was the focus for several rounds of heavy rainfall resulting in flash flooding the week August 18 – August 25, 2007. Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio were the states hardest hit. Across the six states, 18 counties were declared federal disaster areas. Numerous rainfall records, both for most rain in the month of August as well as 24 hour rainfall totals were recorded. Over 457 mm (18 in) of rain was recorded in some locations during this week. At least $100 million in damages has been reported in Minnesota and Wisconsin alone, and 18 people were killed.
[edit] 2007 Oregon and Washington floods - December 2007
Flooding occurred in Oregon and Washington along with high winds. Interstate 5 was both closed and damaged.
[edit] 2008 Midwest flooding - Spring 2008
Flooding is now occurring in the midwest part of the United States.
[edit] June 2008 Indiana Flood
Some towns in Indiana saw over ten inches of rain in seven hours as the White River and Wabash River overflowed their banks. Killing at least two and forcing the evacuations of thousands of homes.
[edit] See also
- Floods in the United States until 1900
- Floods in the United States: 1901-2000
- United States tropical cyclone rainfall climatology
[edit] References
- ^ Department of Commerce. Service Assessment: Tropical Storm Allison Heavy Rains and Floods Texas and Louisiana June 2001. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
- ^ NOAA. Service Assessment: Hurricane Katrina August 25-31, 2005. Retrieved on 2006-10-30.
- ^ NewHampshire.com. NH Flood Information. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ National Weather Service Office, Honolulu, Hawaii. Unprecedented Extended Wet Period across Hawaii. Retrieved on 2006-10-30.
- ^ National Weather Service Office, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sam Shamburger and Montra Lockwood. Too Much of a Good Thing. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ National Weather Service Office, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Sam Shamburger. Water, Water Everywhere. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- ^ National Weather Service Office, Shreveport, Louisiana. October 15-19, 2006 Heavy Rainfall Events. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
