Floods of February-March 1961 

in the Southeastern States

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CIRCULAR 452
Floods of February-March 1961 

in the Southeastern States

By Harry H. Barnes, Jr., and William P. Somers

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 452

Washington 1961
United States Department of the Interior

STEWART L. UDALL, SECRETARY

Geological Survey

THOMAS B. NOLAN, DIRECTOR

Free on application to the U.S. Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

Abstract..........................

Introduction ......................

General description of the floods,

Louisiana.......................

Mississippi.....................

Alabama.........................

Georgia.........................

Page 

1 

1

1

2

3

6

6

Flood damages..........

Aerial photography.....

Incomplete field data.. 

Streamflow data........

Records of discharge,

Summary of peak stages and discharges.

Page 

6 

8 

8 

10 

10 

10

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

Figure 1. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, shoving storm rainfall

February 17-20, 1961........................................................... 2

2. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, showing storm rainfall

February 20-23, 1961........................................................... 3

3. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, showing storm rainfall

February 23-26, 1961........................................................... 4

4. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, showing storm rainfall

February 17-26, 1961........................................................... 5

5. Graph of stage and discharge of Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Miss., February 17

to March 1, 1961............................................................... 6

6. Aerial photograph by Air National Guard of Hattiesburg, Miss., and vicinity,

February 23, 1961.............................................................. 7

7. Graphs showing accumulated rainfall and stage of Jones Creek at gaging station

near Epes, Ala., February 17-22, 1961.......................................... 9

8. Map of southeastern States, showing aerial photographic coverage,

February-March 1961............................................................ 10

9. Aerial photograph by Air National Guard of Montgomery, Ala., and vicinity,

near time of peak, February 27, 1961........................................... 11

10. Map of southeastern States, showing location of indirect measurement sites

and flood profiles not yet surveyed, February-March 1961....................... 12

11. Map of Atlanta, Ga., and vicinity, showing location of flood profiles not yet

surveyed, February-March 1961.................................................. 12

12. Map of southeastern States, showing recurrence intervals of peak discharge at

selected points, February-March 1961........................................... 13

TABLES

Page 

Table 1. Summary of estimates of flood damages, February-March 1961........................ 8

2. Mean discharge (preliminary) in cubic feet per second, February-March 1961,

of Tombigbee River at Columbus, Miss............................................ 14

3. Mean discharge (preliminary) in cubic feet per second, February-March 1961,

of Pascagoula River at Merrill, Miss............................................ 14

4. Mean discharge (preliminary) in cubic feet per second, February-March 1961,

of Pearl River at Jackson, Miss................................................. 14

5. Flood stages and discharges........................................................ 15

HI
Floods of February-March 1961 in the Southeastern States

By Harry H. Barries, Jr., and William P. Somers

ABSTRACT

Widespread, prolonged, disastrous floods struck parts of 

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida 

following heavy rains Feb. 17 26, 1961. Three distinct 

low-pressure systems recurred in essentially the same area. 

Precipitation totaled more than 18 inches in some areas. 

Multiple floods of small streams became superimposed in 

the large rivers to produce rare, record-breaking peaks and 

prolonged inundation.

Four lives were lost; one in Louisiana and three in Mississippi. Highways, railroads, urban areas, and farms were 

heavily damaged.

INTRODUCTION

The data presented fall short of the coverage needed for a complete flood report. Many 

indirect measurements were staked at miscellaneous sites in anticipation of later completion. Hundreds of miles of stream profiles 

were staked similarly.

The principal data presented are in a summary table of flood stages and discharges.

The records were collected as part of the 

cooperative programs between the Survey and 

State agencies. The following district engineers supervised the work of Surface Water 

Branch district personnel:

Louisiana 

Mississippi 

Alabama 

Georgia

F. N. Hansen 

W. H. Robinson 

L. E. Carroon 

H. H. Odell, acting

H. H. Barnes, Jr., assisted by J. L. Patterson, flood specialist, coordinated district 

efforts at indirect measurements, flood profiling, and report preparation under the general supervision of Tate Dalrymple, chief, 

Floods Section, Washington, D.C. Many Federal, State, municipal, and private agencies 

furnished information. H. H. Barnes, Jr.,

prepared the isohyetal maps from Weather 

Bureau data compiled by the districts. Notes 

in the text acknowledge data furnished by 

others. W. P. Somers, Floods Section, prepared the text.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS

A succession of low pressure systems 

originating in the Gulf of Mexico moved northward and northeastward during the period 

February 16-26,1961. Associated squall lines 

caused extreme variations in intensity and 

total precipitation during the storm periods.

On February 17, 7 to 9 inches of rain fell 

in an area from Bogalusa, La., northeastward 

through Purvis, Hattiesburg, and Shubuta, 

Miss., and into southwestern Alabama. During 

the period February 18-20 following this 

heavy burst, 1 to 3 inches of rain fell rather 

steadily over a wider area. Totals for the 

period February 17-20 are shown on the 

isohyetal map, figure 1.

On February 21 and 22 up to 8 inches of 

rain fell in a band parallel to that of the 

February 17 burst and roughly 50 to 100 

miles north. The band extended from Amite, 

La., through Columbia, Collins, Meridian, 

Miss., and through Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, 

Ala., into the northeastern section of Alabama. Small amounts of rain fell following 

this second intense burst. Totals for the 

period February 20-23 are shown on the 

isohyetal map, figure 2.

On February 24 and 25 heavy rains centered along a line parallel to the first two 

storm areas but east of them. The band extended from southwestern Alabama through 

Greenville, Montgomery, Lafayette, Ala., to 

Atlanta, Ga. Totals for the period February
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

92

EXPLANATION

 $. .

Rainfall.In inches

25 _^Q 25_50 75 100125 ISO 175200 MILES 

Figure 1. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, showing storm rainfall February 17-20, 1961,

23-26 are shown on the isohyetal map, 

figure 3.

The rapid succession of 3 heavy storms 

accumulated totals of more than 18 inches of 

rain in southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi and in central and southern Alabama. 

The totals for the 3 storm periods February 

17-26 are shown on the isohyetal map, 

figure 4.

All the isohyetal maps are necessarily 

generalized because of the extreme variations of intensity and accumulation. They 

serve to emphasize the features of the three 

storms in relation to the resulting floods.

Prior to the floods, January streamflow 

was appreciably below median in a wide band 

from central Mississippi, most of Alabama, 

and northern Georgia. Louisiana runoff was 

more nearly normal or above.

Louisiana

In northeastern Louisiana, Boeuf River 

near the Arkansas-Louisiana State line exceeded the peak discharge of the 1958 flood, 

the previous maximum of a short record. 

Downstream at Girard the Boeuf River flood 

was less than 3. 2-year event. Just west of 

Girard, Bayou La Fourche near Crew Lake 

peak discharge substantially exceeded a 25- 

year recurrence interval flood. Other 

streams in the vicinity had peaks less than 

a 4-year flood.

In the Florida Parishes of southeastern 

Louisiana, Pearl River at Bogalusa (drainage 

area, 6,630 square miles) reached a 50-year 

peak discharge to set a new maximum of 23 

years record. Pearl River Slidell (8,700 

square miles) peaked at 150,000 cfs (cubic 

feet per second), estimated to exceed a 100-
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS

92° 90° 88°

31

29°

25^ 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200MILES

Figure 2. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, shoving storm rainfall February 20-23, 1961.

year flood. Flood stages persisted well into 

April. Smaller streams in the vicinity-- 

Bogue Chitto, Tchefuncta, and Tangipahoa 

Rivers reached peaks equivalent to not 

greater than a 13-year flood. Floods west 

of the Tangipahoa River basin were minor.

Mississippi

Peak discharges were outstanding in 

southern Mississippi and high in the Sunflower River basin in the delta area of northwestern Mississippi Because there were two 

principal concentrations of rainfall, small 

streams with short concentration periods 

peaked twice while the large streams, such 

as the Leaf, Chickasawhay, and Pascagoula 

Rivers, peaked once with runoff accumulating 

from both storms. For this reason the peaks 

of large streams were rarer events than 

those of the small streams.

Following the February 17 storm, particularly intense in the vicinity of Purvis, 

floods occurred on streams tributary to 

West Hobolochitto Creek, on Wolf River, Red 

Creek, and the middle reaches of Black Creek. 

The crest of Black Creek at Brooklyn was 

higher than any previously known.

The February 21 storm was intense in the 

vicinity of Columbia, about 25 miles northwest of Purvis, and extended over the upper 

reaches of Black Creek, the middle reaches 

of Bowie River, and the upper reaches of 

Leaf and Chickasaw Rivers. Near Columbia, 

Silver Creek overtopped the highway and 

flooded much of the town of Foxworth. 

Floods on Silver Creek and adjacent Ten 

Mile Creek were about equal to the flood of 

1955, the greatest since April 1900. Black 

Creek overtopped Mississippi State Route 589 

between Purvis and Sumrall. The earlier 

peak downstream at Brooklyn had receded 

before this peak reached the area.
92"

FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

84°

^MISSISSIPPI

 v i ,;

EXPLANATION

 2 

Rainfall, in inches

25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200MILES

Figure 3. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, showing storm rainfall February 23-26, 1961.

Leaf River near Collins peaked at 48,000 

cfs, the greatest since 1900 and equal to that 

historic flood. This was a 50-year flood. 

Water flooded a quarter of a mile of U.S. 

Highway 84 east of Collins.

Bowie Creek at Hattiesburg (304 square 

miles) peaked at 35,700 cfs compared to an 

expected 50-year flood of 19,000 cfs. Bowie 

Creek flowed over about a mile of U.S. Highway 49 at this crossing.

Leaf River at Hattiesburg (1,760 square 

miles) reached a peak of 72,200 cfs, equivalent to a 30-year flood. A stage and discharge 

hydrograph (fig. 5) for the period February 

17 to March 1, 1961, shows the prolonged 

peak at Hattiesburg. The peak discharge was 

largely from Bowie River because its crest 

reached Hattiesburg about 24 hours ahead of 

the upper Leaf River crest. Had the crests 

been synchronized, a peak with a recurrence 

interval more nearly that common in the area

might have occurred. Flood damage was 

heavy at Hattiesburg where 5,000 persons 

were evacuated from the inundated eastern 

section of the city. The aerial photograph, 

figure 6, was made at the time of the peak at 

Hattiesburg. The boundaries of the flood areas 

are superimposed on the photograph and 

vividly show why damages were heavier here 

than anywhere in Mississippi. U.S. Highway 

11 and Mississippi State Route 42 were overtopped and closed.

Tallahala Creek at Lauren (233 square 

miles) and near Runnelstown (612 square 

miles) with peak discharges of 18,800cfsand 

33,000 cfs respectively, exceeded 50-year 

floods at both locations.

Leaf River near McLain (3,510 square 

miles) reached a peak discharge of 128,000 

cfs, slightly greater than a 50-year flood of 

125,000 cfs. About 90 percent of the town of 

McLain was inundated: U.S. Highway 98 in
92° 90°

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS 

88° 86° 84° 82°

25 0 25 50 75 100 125 ISO 175 200MILES

Figure 4. Isohyetal map of southeastern States, shoving storm rainfall February 17-26, 1961.

the town anu Mississippi State Route 57 south 

of the town were overtopped. The stage record 

at this gaging station indicates the runoff of 

the two storms had coincided to produce one 

peak. Downstream the flood crest tended to 

flatten out.

Chickasawhay River at Enterprise (913 

square miles) at 60,000 cfs just exceeded a 

50-year flood of 58,000 cfs. The stage was 

0.7 foot higher than the April 1900 flood, the 

greatest previously known. About 850 feet of 

Mississippi State Route 513 was under water 

as deep as 5.6 feet.

Chicasashay River at Waynesboro (1,660 

square miles) reached a peak of 58,000 cfs, a 

little less than a 50-year flood of 60,000 cfs. 

At Leakesville (2,680 square miles) the peak 

was 73,500 cfs, somewhat greater than a 50- 

year flood of 69,000 cfs. The 1900 flood was 

higher than the 1961 floods at both gaging 

stations.

The Chickasawhay River crest lagged the 

Leaf River crest by about 2 days at their 

confluence just above Merrill. Pascagoula 

River at Merrill (6,600 square miles) peak 

discharge of 177,000 cfs was slightly greater 

than a 50-year flood of 170,000 cfs.

Pearl River peak discharges ranged from 

a 14-year flood at Edinburg gradually down to 

a 3-year flood at Monticello and Columbia 

(5,690 square miles) where the peak was 

43,000 cfs. The peak discharge of Pearl River 

near Bogalusa, La. (6,630 square miles), was 

87,000 cfs, described as a 50-year flood. The 

peak occurred February 23, about 1 day before that upstream at Columbia. The heavy 

rain centered at Magnolia during February 

20-23 may account for the great increase in 

peak magnitude. The peak discharge of Pearl 

River near Slidell, La. (8,700 square miles), 

is estimated to be greater than a 100-year 

flood.
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 

FEBRUARY MARCH 1961

Figure 5. Graph of stage and discharge of 

Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Miss., February 

17 to March 1, 1961.

Sunflower River at Sunflower peaked at 

7,700 cfs, about an 8-year flood. There are 

reports of more severe flooding in the lower 

part of the Sunflower River.

Alabama

Moderate peak discharges of small 

streams in southwestern Alabama during the 

period February 18-21 were the highest recorded at many new gaging stations. No outstanding unit runoff was noted in that area. 

Moderately high peaks occured similarly in 

the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham areas following the February 21-22 storm. A peak of 

48,000 cfs on Catoma Creek near Montgomery 

(298 square miles) was recorded after the 

February 24-25 storm. The three storms produced few outstanding floods on small 

streams. The rainfall and stage records for 

Jones Creek near Epes (11.7 square miles), 

figure 7, indicate the complex rainfall occurrence and discharge variations typical of 

small streams in the area.

The recurring storms generated large 

volumes of runoff that produced outstanding 

floods on large streams. The peak discharge 

of Alabama River near Montgomery (15,100 

square miles) reached 283,000 cfs, an 80- 

year flood exceeding the previous maximum 

discharge of 274,000 cfs on March 30, 1888. 

The peak stage was about equal to the 1888 

peak and about 2.1 feet lower than the peak 

of April 1, 1886. Alabama River at Selma 

(17,100 square miles) reached a record 

284,000 cfs, greater than a 100-year flood, 

and continued above flood stage well into 

March. The Coosa, upper Alabama, Black 

Warrior, and Tombigbee Rivers had the 

highest peaks of recent years. Mobile River

near Mobile exceeded the record maximum 

discharge.

The'February-March floods of the Alabama River were not only record-breaking 

discharges but remained above flood stages 

for longer periods than ever known before. 

Stages were above flood stage at Montgomery 

for 19 consecutive days, at Selma for 17 days, 

at Miller Ferry for 28 days, and at Claiborne 

for 29 days. The Coos a River remained above 

flood stage at Wetumpka for 9 days, at 

Childersburg for 10 days, and at Gadsdenfor 

14 days.

Georgia

General moderate flooding occurred in 

the northern half of the State with some 

scattered extreme floods on some streams. 

Several small streams near Atlanta reached 

peaks greater than 50-year floods. The 

Chattahoochee River rose rapidly responding 

to the heavier concentration of rain in the 

western part of the State. Little flooding 

occurred above Newnan. At West Point (3,550 

square miles) the peak of 95,000 cfs was 

about a 22-year flood. At Columbus (4,670 

square miles) the peak of 145,000 cfs was 

about a 65-year flood. The flood was about 

the fourth greatest of record and the greatest 

since March 1929 at Columbus. Flood stages 

persisted for about 3 days.

The upper part of the Flint River reached 

stages 4 to 9 feet above flood stage. The 

Apalachicola River reached stages higher 

than any since 1948 and 1929 at some points 

and remained above flood stages for 8 days 

at Chattahoochee, Fla., and 11 days at 

Blountstown, Fla.

FLOOD DAMAGES

Louisiana. --One person drowned at Walker. Damages were light, confined mostly to 

highways, railroads, and agriculture. About 

one-eighth of the total damage in the Bogue 

Chitto and Pearl River basins occurred in 

Louisiana.

Mississippi.--Three persons lost their 

lives at Hattiesburg. Damage to municipalities, roads, and agriculture was extensive. 

Damage to county roads was much greater 

than that to the State Highway system. The 

municipalities of Hattiesburg, Petal, Fox-
FLOOD DAMAGES

Figure 6. Aerial photograph "by Air National Guard of Hattiesburg, Miss., and vicinity,

February 23, 1961.
8 FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

worth, McLain, Laurel, Waynesboro, Shubuta, 

Quitman, and Enterprise had heavy damages; 

Meridian and Jackson had less damage.

Alabama.--No lives were lost; about 8,000 

families sustained flood losses. The Alabama 

State Civil Defense Department estimated a 

total of $36 million in the State.

Georgia. No lives were lost and no 

buildings were destroyed. The American 

National Red Cross estimates 25 buildings 

had major damage and 461 had minor damage.

Table 1 comprises the miscellaneous, incomplete, preliminary estimates of damages 

through the flood area by the Louisiana and 

Mississippi Highway Departments, Alabama 

State Civil Defense Department, Corps of 

Engineers, U.S. Weather Bureau, and Soil 

Conservation Service. It would not be feasible to compare estimates by different agencies in separate areas as the reporting 

techniques vary greatly.

Table 1.--Estimates of flood damages, 

February-March 1961

Louisiana:

State and Federal highways ..$ 30,000 

Northeastern Louisiana: 

Crop.............................. 85,000

Noncrop ......................... 15,000

Louisiana-Mississippi:

Bogue Chitto River basin: 

Agricultural.................... 37,500

Roads and railroads ......... 17,000

Pearl River basin: 

Agricultural .................... 344,200

Roads and railroads ......... 268,800

Mississippi:

State highways ................... 150,000

County and municipal .......... 2,300,000

Agricultural ...................... 2,000,000

Alabama:

Highways .......................... 1,000,000

Other public property .......... 10,000,000

Private ............................. 12,000,000

Industrial.......................... 5,000,000

Agricultural ...................... 8,000,000

Georgia : 

All... 500,000

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Extensive and informative aerial photographic coverage is available for possible 

use in inundation mapping. The Air National 

Guard photographed main streams of the 

Mobile River basin during the floods as 

shown on the map, figure 8, with continuous 

main stem coverage. About 16 urban areas 

in Mississippi and Alabama were photographed at and near the peak. In addition to 

the Hattiesburg photograph with the flood 

boundaries marked (fig. 6), a photograph of 

the Montgomery, Ala., urban area during 

the flood of February 27, 1961, is shown as 

figure 9.

Extensive work would be required before 

suitable inundation maps could be developed. 

The photography is excellent for defining 

flood boundaries.

INCOMPLETE FIELD DATA

During and following the floods, Survey 

engineers in the field worked to get as much 

information as possible on stages, discharges, profiles, and inundated areas, not 

only at gaging stations but also at miscellaneous sites. The aim was to provide essential data for a complete report on floods. 

Although the districts succeeded in gathering timely, important facts, they were unable 

to complete planned coverage within the 

limited time available.

Many indirect measurements were 

staked, but not completely surveyed or computed. The following partial list identifies the 

locations which are shown on the map, figure 

10.
INCOMPIETE FIELD DATA

16

12 CUMULATIVE PRECIPITATION

J_______I

24

2 16 

I 12

LJ

X 8

17 18 19 20 

FEBRUARY 1961

21 22

Figure 7 . Graphs showing accumulated rainfall 

and stage of Jones Creek at gaging station 

near Epes, Ala., February 17-22, 1961.

Alabama:

Chattooga River at Gaylesville

Kelly Creek at U. S. Highway 78

Kelly Creek near Vincent

North Fork Yellowleaf Creek at Chelsea

Muddy Prong near Westover

Yellowleaf Creek near Wilsonville

Tallapoosa River near Heflin

Sandy Creek at Alabama Highway 49

Pintlalla Creek near Montgomery

Big Swamp Creek near Letohatchee

Cedar Creek at Minter

Limestone Creek near Monroeville

Jones Creek near Epes

Lost Creek near Oakman

Village Creek near Adamsville

Valley Creek near Oak Grove

Blue Creek near Oakman

Mississippi:

Ponta Creek near Lauderdale 

Pawticfaw Creek near Enondale 

Okatibbee Creek near Collinsville 

Souinlovey Creek near Enterprise 

Tallahala Creek near Waldrup 

Long Creek near Quitman 

Bucatunna Creek near Quitman

Mississippi Continued

Tallahoma Creek near Laurel

Bogue Homa Creek near Laurel

Bogue Homa Creek at Blodgett

Black Creek near Hattiesburg

Red Creek at Lumberton

Boggy Hollow Creek near Purvis

Little Black Creek near Purvis

Wolf River near Poplarville

West Hobolochitto Creek near Poplarville

Okatoma Creek at Magee

Holiday Creek near Bassfield

Holiday Creek near Columbia

Richland Creek near Foxworth

Jones Creek at Columbia

Hurricane Creek near Columbia

Stuarts Branch near Columbia

Graves Creek near Columbia

Upper Little Creek near Columbia

Georgia:

North Fork Broad River near Carnesville

Shetley Creek near Norcross

Yellow River near Snellville

Garner Creek near Snellville

Towaliga River near Jackson

Walnut Creek near Macon

Little Tobesofkee Creek near Forsyth

Alien Creek at Talmo

Whitten Creek near Sparta

Big Creek near Alpharetta

Sweetwater Creek near Austell

Dog River near Douglasville

Unnamed tributary near West Point

Unnamed tributary near Thomaston

Scarecorn Creek at Hinton

Holly Creek near Chatsworth

Etowah River near Dahlonega

Raccoon Creek near Dallas

Alin Creek near Rockmart

Euharlee Creek at Rockmart

Euharlee Creek near Taylorsville

Little River near Buchanan

Shoal Creek near Dawsonville

At many locations high-water marks were 

staked to define flood profiles. These are 

mapped in figure 10. In Mississippi about 

600 stream miles have been staked at 80 

crossings. In Alabama many miles of profiles have been similarly staked. In the 

vicinity of Atlanta, Ga., about 7 miles of 

profiles have been staked on 15 small streams 

(fig. U).
10 FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

EXPLANATION 

Complete coverage

Single or mosaic coverage

31

29°

25 0 25 50 75 100 125 ISO 175 200MILES

Figure 8. Map of southeastern States, showing aerial photographic coverage, February-March 1961,

STREAMFLOW DATA

Records of Discharges

Daily and monthly mean discharges (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, and 

runoff, in inches, for the period FebruaryMarch 1961 are shown in the tables 2, 3, 

and 4. Three gaging station records in Mississippi have been selectedrTombigbee River 

at Columbus, Pascagoula River at Merrill, 

and Pearl River at Jackson.

Summary of Flood Stages and Discharges

Flood stages and discharges are summarized in table 5. The list is in downstream order as presented in annual reports. 

The station number, name, and drainage area 

are shown. The stage and discharge for maximum floods previously known are shown with 

their year of occurrence. The date, stage,

discharge, and recurrence interval, T, of the 

1961 peaks are given. Recurrence intervals 

shown with a plus sign (+) after the years 

can be much greater than the years shown. 

The upper limit of defined frequency relations 

is adhered to without gross extension.

A map showing recurrence intervals of 

peak discharges at selected points is shown 

as figure 12. The mixture of greatly different 

recurrence intervals in small regions is explained in part by the use of a point at the 

gaging station to represent the entire drainage 

area.
STREAMFLOW DATA 11

Figure 9. Aerial photograph by Air National Guard of Montgomery, Ala., and vicinity, near time

of peak, February 27, 1961.
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES 

90° 88° 86° 84°

tSS IPPJ i

) Profiles staked by Geological Survey"

Profiles to be surveyed by Corps ot Engineers 

o

29° Indirect measurement sites not yet surveye

25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 ZOO MILES

Figure 10. Map of southeastern States, showing location of indirect measurement sites and flood

profiles not yet surveyed, February-March 1961.

Profile staked

5 MILES

Figure 11. Map of Atlanta, Ga., and vicinity 

showing location of flood profiles not yet 

surveyed, February-March 1961.
STREAMFLOW DATA 13

82°

/Becurrence intervals of peak dischar 

at selected points

25 0 25 50 75 IOO 125 ISO I752OO MILES

Figure 12. Map of southeastern States, showing recurrence intervals of peak discharge at selected

points, February-March 1961.
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

Table 2. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, 

February-March 1961, of Tombigbee River at Columbus, Mississippi

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

February

2,170

2,100

2,250

3,340

3,520

3,250

2,890

3,800

7,600

7,900

March

38,300

32,500

27,400

22,100

16,600

12,400

10,300

8,350

21,200

21,600

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet £

Runoff, in inches -

February

5,950

4,710

4,200

3,900

3,800

3,610

3,250

3,160

9,250

15,400

March

21,400

20,500

19,400

22, 600

23, 700

23,100

21,600

20, 100

20,200

20,400

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

February

26,900

35, 100

53,500

76,200

76,200

63,600

54,500

45,800

 

 

 

18,850

4.37

March

21,000

21,600

21,000

20,200

19,100

16,000

14,200

13,400

21,000

23,700

29,600

20,790

5.34

Table 3. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, 

February-March 1961, of Pascagoula River at Merrill, Mississippi

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

February

13,200

10,000

8,500

7,540

7,540

7,540

8,550

9,000

8,550

7,680

March

157,000

130,000

100,000

77,800

64,600

50,800

46, 100

42,000

41,200

40,400

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet j

Runoff, in inchesFebruary

6,980

6,420

5,900

5,380

5,020

4,780

4,540

13,800

32,000

51,800

March

38,900

36,200

32,000

28,000

24,300

20,700

20,500

29,800

38,900

43,600

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

February

63,200

81,000

98,600

109,000

134,000

159,000

177,000

175,000

 

 

 

43,380

6.84

March

47,000

48,800

47,900

44,400

40,400

34,400

29,200

26,400

29,200

37,500

48,800

48,280

8.43

Table 4. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, 

February-March 1961, of Pearl River at Jackson, Mississippi

Day

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

February

1,780

1,540

1,460

1,380

1,420

1,540

1,460

1,340

1,230

1,190

March

46,400

42,200

37,200

32,800

28,000

24,000

19,800

16,500

14,100

12,100

Day

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Monthly mean discharge, in cubic feet

Runoff, in inches

February

1/190

1,150

1,110

1,04D

964

910

1,270

4,830

6,660

9,010

March

10,400

9,730

9,280

9,030

8,950

8,870

9,820

12,000

13,500

15,200

Day

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

February

11,600

14,200

18,300

22,600

26,200

30, 600

37,300

44,800

 

 

 

8,860

2.98

March

16,500

16,900

16,900

16,900

16,500

15,700

15,200

15,900

16,700

16,500

17,600

18,100

6.73
STREAMFLOW DATA 15

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges

Station 

Mo,

2-1770 

2-1820

2-1885

2-1895 

2-1900

2-1905 

2-1910 

2-1912 

2-1913 

2-1920

2-1935 

2-1975.5 

2-1976 

2-1980

2-1997

2-2001 

2-2005 

2-2009 

2-2020

2-2038 

2-2039 

2-2045 

2-2050 

2-2055

2-2060 

2-2065 

2-2070 

2-2075 

2-2090

2-2105 

2-2113 

2-2115 

2-2130 

2-2134

2-2135 

2-2140 

2-2145 

2-2165 

2-2170

2-2172 

2-2175 

2-2185 

2-2195 

2-2205.5

2-2210 

2-2230

2-2232 

2-2233 

2-2235

Stream and location

SAVAMAB BfTER BASIN

Horth Fork Broad River near Carnesvllle, Ga....

OGEECHEE RIVER BASIN 

South Fork Ogeechee River near Crawfordville,

ALTAMAHA RIVER BASIN

Drainage 

area 

(sq. ml)

207 

32.5 

35.8

19.3 

42

10.3 

119 

46 

760 

1,430

291 

24 

28 

646

33

55 

800 

95.8 

1,940

41.5 

99 

456 

1.59 

2.23

.98 

134 

5.54 

378 

244

1,420 

105 

315 

2,240 

16.8

182 

147 

108 

283 

17.3

128 

398 

1,090 

436 

15

24 

2,950

191 

31 

4,400

TfrMri imim floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1940 

1949 

1852 

1908 

1943 

1955 

1933 

1955

1956 

1943 

1954 

1908 

1929

1952 

1952 

1960 

1929

1953 

1953 

1929 

1960 

1929 

1940

1960 

1956 

1946 

1956 

1956

1956 

1948 

1956 

1936 

1887

1919

1929 

1948 

1953

1944 

1953 

1944 

1929 

1952

1952 

1902 

1908 

1908

1959 

1886 

1928 

1928 

1960 

1936

Gage 

height 

(ft)

13.8 

18.0 

23.6 

23.6 

13.4 

8.33 

17.5 

11.8

8.41 

7.6 

11.0 

39.0 

34.8

27.6 

8.53 

7.28 

25.1

13.7 

6.13 

21.3 

5.27 

17.0 

12.8

9.79 

13.1 

24.7 

8.20 

6.96

7.00 

19.4 

3.09 

25.6 

27.2

26.8

28.0 

10.7

23.2 

15.0 

8.6 

23.0 

11.5

.11.8 

b25.5 

,35.4 

*27.5

7.7 

46.6 

38.7 

22.5 

4.78 

33.0

Discharge 

(cfs)

29,000 

15,100

2,600 

1,060

1,500

726 

4,700 

3,170 

70,000 

79,400

13, 100 

960 

752 

64,000

2,380 

2,340 

46,000 

640

24,600

3,120 

6,930 

34,500 

806 

615

510 

9,500 

727 

37,000 

12,400

69,000

&15,900 

83,500

9,830 

15,000 

3,000 

9,000 

1,150

6,640 

19,600 

66,800 

28,900

2,510

95,000 

11,200 

532 

96,700

February-March 1961

Date

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 22 

Feb. 25

Feb. 21

Feb. 21 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Mar. 2

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Mar. 3,4

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 21 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 26

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 21

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 28

Gage 

height 

(ft)

6.0 

6.68

12.2 

9.00

11.55

8.40 

14.5 

12.2 

24 

23.0

24.1 

8.94 

5.60 

12.1

14.2

7.37 

17.0 

4.46

11.2

11.09 

21.3 

25.4 

4.96 

6.40

10.4 

19.1 

4.40 

19.1 

16.9

20.1 

13.9 

18.0 

24.1 

10.6

20.3 

13.4 

4.0 

19.2 

12.6

13.9 

18.2 

21.8 

19.6 

16.0

6.95

42.9 

18.5 

4.47 

28.4

Discharge 

(cfs)

7,310 

2,220

2,100 

1,450

1,800

1,000 

13,000 

5,500 

20,500 

24,300

9,110 

1,270 

398 

5,790

2,500 

4,070 

17,000 

426

15,500

8,000 

12,000 

28,000 

340 

532

9,080

13,100 

5,540

43,100 

3,400 

9,500 

48,200

7,390 

9,840 

300 

6,230

12,200 

17,200 

11,000

2,060

123,000 

4,400 

359 

60,400

T

(yr)

3 

2

5 

5

3

5 

50+ 

11 

6 

3

5 

7 

2 

6

20 

50+

11 

2

3

50+

32 

32

30

9 

6

12 

3 

4 

5

8 

15 

1 

5

6 

4 

3

9

90 

12 

2

7

See footnotes at end of table.
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges Continued

Station

No.

2-2240

2-2252 

2-2255

2-3275 

2-3280

2-3310 

2-3315 

2-3316 

2-3335

2-3345

2-3350 

2-3355 

2-3357 

2-3360 

2-3363

2-3370 

2-3374 

2-3375 

2-3390 

2-3395

2-3405 

2-3407.50 

2-3422 

2-3423.75 

2-3415

2-3435

2-3443 

2-3445 

2-3465 

2-3475 

2-3495

2-3506

2-3525 

2-3530 

2-3535 

2-3570

2-3630

2-3710 

2-3712 

2-3715 

2-3720 

2-3725

Stream and location

ALTAMAHA RIVER BASIN (Cont.)

Little Ohoopee River near Wrightsville, Ga. ....

OCHLOCKONEE RIVER BASIN

APAIACEECOLA RIVER BASIN

FLINT RIVER BASIN

CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER BASIN

MOBILE RIVER BASIN

Drainage 

area 

(sq. mi)

62.9

63 

1,110

550 

55

150 

156 

315 

153

1,060

1,170 

1,230 

72 

1,450 

86.8

246 

43 

37 

182 

3,550

61.7 

101 

7.47 

134 

4,670

8,040

17 

272 

186 

1,850 

2,990

197

5,310 

5,740 

620 

485

492

253 

8.88 

492 

249 

1.344

Maximum floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1943 

1960 

1960 

1925

1948 

1948

1946 

1949 

1959 

1907 

1946 

1946

1946 

1946

1946

1916 

1956 

1956 

1956 

1919

1948 

1956 

1960 

1958 

1929

1929

1929 

1948 

1929 

1897 

1929

1943 

1953 

1925 

1925 

1916 

1948

1929 

1943

1948 

1960 

1948 

1948 

1929

Gage 

height 

(ft)

12.5 

10.0 

8.44 

28.4

29.1 

16.3

13.6 

28.5 

10.1 

25.0 

22.1 

32.6

27.7 

23.4

28.0

20.0 

14.5 

12.8 

,11.4 

30.0

b 16.6 

11.7 

8.13 

13.1 

53.2

56.0

17.9 

8.8 

.38.4 

^26.0 

27.4

11.4 

, 8.80 

V?.8 

41.3 

17.2 

19.9

25 

19.98

16.1 

4.47 

23.0 

16.8 

47.64

Discharge 

(cfs)

2,900

47,000

72,000 

28,100

14,100 

21,000 

9,840

15,300 

55,000

55,000 

56,000

59,000

8,960 

7,400 

6,110 

7,140 

134,000

11,800 

7,100 

509 

3,900 

198,000

203,000

15,300 

9,240 

92,000 

97,000 

92,000

6,000 

92,000 

94,000 

15,500 

12,600

19,100

18,000 

485 

15,800 

16,700 

154,000

February -March 1961

Date

Mar. 2 

Feb. 25 

Mar. 3

Feb. 26 

Feb. 24

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. -25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 21 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 26 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 24 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26

Feb. 27

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 28

Feb. 24 

Mar. 3 

Mar. 4 

Mar. 5 

Mar. 1

Feb. 22

Feb. 26 

Feb. 18 

Feb. 27 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 28

Gage 

height 

(ft)

2.38 

5.72 

10.1

9.8 

5.8

9.5 

12.1 

12.8

15.9 

10.4

10.6 

10.3 

12.5 

18.3 

17.0

18.2 

16.15 

14.4 

22.5 

24.9

6.8 

16.08 

8.81 

11.29 

47.8

47.7

9.9 

16.1 

8.5 

32.8

24.0

7.20 

29.0 

47.7 

3.1 

7.3

15.77

13.42 

5.20 

20.09 

15.07 

32.45

Discharge 

(cfs)

154 

338 

2,400

1,360 

426

7,700 

5,820 

12,900

8,510 

°5,540

C8,950 

° 10,000 

7,400 

C 24,900 

5,800

7,840 

10,000 

8,200 

22,000 

95,000

5,600 

12,800 

639 

2,900 

145,000

105,000

3,400 

10,800 

8,100 

49,400

58,800

2,200 

48,000 

45,700 

1,400 

660

7,050

7,700 

. 720 

10,300 

10,300 

20,100

T

(yr)

1 

1 

1

1 

1

2 

2 

3

5

50+ 

17

9 

50+ 

50+ 

50+ 

22

36 

50+

1 

65

9

50+ 

9 

9 

8

10

2

5 

5 

1 

1

2

2

3 

4 

3

See footnotes at end of table.
STREAMFLCW DATA

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges Continued

Station

No.

2-3730 

2-3735

2-3745 

2-3750 

2-3775

2-3785 

2-3795 

2-3800 

2-3820 

2-3830

2-3835 

2-3840 

2-3850 

2-3858 

2-3870

2-3875 

2-3880 

2-3885 

2-3889 

2-3890

2-3893 

2-3920 

2-3925 

2-3944 

2-3949

2-3960 

2-3970 

2-3975 

2-3980 

2-3985

2-3990 

2-3992 

2-3995

2-3998 

2-4000

2-4005 

2-4010

2-4015 

2-4017

2-4018

2-4032 

2-4040

2-4042.45 

2-4045

2-4055 

2-4060 

2-4065 

2-4070 

2-4075

Stream and location

MOBILE RIVER BASIN (Cont.)

Little Terrapin Creek near Borden Spring, Ala..

Drainage 

area 

(sq. mi)

464 

296

170 

323 

93.2

55.1 

135 

90 

21.1 

5.61

856 

108 

87 

64.9 

632

1,610 

34.5 

2,150 

68 

103

20.5 

605 

60.5 

40 

26

1,810

109 

193

377

121 

194 

5,270

15.9 

115

5,800 

185

256 

44.2

88.6

129 

281 

72 

499

192

98.4 

148 

8,390 

97.2

Maximum floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1929 

1938 

1929 

1948 

1938 

1955 

1926 

1953

1953 

1938 

1954 

1942 

1954

1951 

1958 

1951

1951 

1886

1947

19*6

1959 

1892 

1946 

1954 

1960

1919 

1886 

1948 

1951 

1951

1948

1946 

1947

1948

1886 

1936 

1884 

1951 

1942 

1951 

1957 

1958

1957 

1936 

1951 

1886 

1951

1955 

1951 

1951 

1951 

1951

Gage 

height 

(ft)

33 

24.5 

30 

27.1 

16.65 

19.4 

22.2 

19.73

17.04 

13.0 

16.3 

9.2 

4.18

30.8 

18.2 

15.7

30.2 

36.6

35^1- 

T2\8 

15.8

5.78 

25.0 

18.0 

15.6 

8.0

b28.0

43 

16.4 

21.0 

25.42

12.9

35.1

13.3

37.9 

31.13 

16.3 

14.50 

29.1 

14.2 

9.1 

15.2

11.95 

17.2 

20.2 

27.5 

25.5

20.86 

19 

16.6 

30.1 

23.85

Discharge 

(cfs)

28, 100

17,100 

20,000 

42,400

14,000

8,570 

20,000 

7,940

820

40,200 

19,400 

13,000

11,000

68,600 

__^ 

^47,000 

3,800 

4,780

1,500 

36, 700 

5,000 

2,850 

577

55,000 

100,000 

12,500 

24,500 

33, 700

21,800

73,200

21,000

76,900

14,800 

37,900

3,060 

3,480

6,860 

21,900

49,300

10,500 

33-, 000 

39,000 

146,000 

19,300

February-March 1961

Date

Feb. 26

Feb. 27 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 19

Feb. 19 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 26 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 25

Feb. 27 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 21

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23

Feb. 24 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21

Feb. 26

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23

Feb. 21 

Feb. 21

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 21

Gage 

height 

(ft)

24.7

27.22 

16.13 

12.08

12.39

12.97 

7.1 

12.7 

9.1 

4.02

26.1 

15.7 

11.8 

10.2 

24.3

29.2

8.5 

32.6 

13.4

14.6

7.66 

23.2 

15.6 

20.3 

10.4

30.4 

30.2

16.2 

,16.4 

d 19.44

7.55 

10.08

637.7 

8.24 

12.00

30.61

11.56 

23.58

11.88 

17.06

10.88 

15.12 

16.32

22.09

27.08 

11.70 

14.63 

30.4 

25.2

Discharge 

(cfs)

24,000 

17,400

9,430 

3,300

2,900 

5,450 

4,030

750

17,400 

10,600 

3,000

16,300

31,700 

3,000 

30, 100

4,150

2,430 

19,300 

3,750 

6,600 

3,000

C20,500 

39,000 

8,300 

8,220

7,430 

11,800

1,930 

14,600

71,300

5,700 

19,500

4,400 

15,800 

7,000

28,000

5,600 

10,200 

145,000

T

(yr)

9 

13

2 

3

5 

5

20

3 

2 

2

4

5 

4 

3

4

4 

7 

10 

50+ 

32

2 

2

10 

3

2 

2

5

13

2 

7

2 

5 

16

16

2 

2 

34

See footnotes at end of table.
FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges Continued

Station

No.

2-4079 

2-4085 

2-4090 

2-4118 

2-41 19

2-4120 

2-4125 

2-4130 

2-4132 

2-4134

2-4134.75 

2-4135 

2-4145 

2-4148 

2-4150

2-4190

2-4196.25 

2-4200

2-4205 

2-4210

2-4220 

2-4225 

2-4230 

2-4235 

2-4238

2-4240

2-4245 

2-4250 

2-4255 

2-4260

2-4273 

2-4275 

2-4277 

2-4285 

2-4290

2-4295 

2-4310 

2-4360 

2-4365 

2-4370

2-4375 

2-4410

2-4415

2-4420 

2-4425

2-4430 

2-4440 

2-4445

2-4450 

2-4465

Stream and location

MOBILE RIVER BASIN ( ont.)

U'Dll3ID66 Cl*GGk nsSJT TllSlCGfitGG AT fl.

East Fork Tombigbee River near Fulton, Miss....

West Fork Tombigbee River near Nettleton, Miss.

Drainage 

area 

(sq mi)

13.5 

244 

73.6 

18 

237

444 

787 

89 

210 

9.7

47 

592 

1,660 

6.7 

196

330

126 

15,100

109 

298

247 

208 

17,100 

230 

148

1,029

1,378 

1,780 

217 

104

9.73 

20,700 

114 

245 

117

22,000 

605 

136 

617 

1,941

2,210 

928

4,490

127

241

309 

131 

5,990

116 

518

M""f j Tni\m floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1960 

1946 

1951 

1960 

1948

1957 

1943 

1948 

1948 

1960

1956 

1948 

1936 

1955 

1957

1929 

1943 

1958 

1886 

1888 

1919 

1943

1948 

1938 

1886 

1942 

1958

1938 

1951 

1938 

1939 

1956 

1951

1960 

1929 

1959 

1948 

1929 

1955

1938 

1955 

1955 

1955 

1955

1955 

1926 

1951 

1892 

1949 

1949 

1957

1949 

1960 

1892 

1948 

1960 

1950

Gage 

height 

(ft)

4.26 

24.9 

16.8

27,4

21.4 

16.2 

19.3 

22.5 

5.58

12.7 

20.8 

27.9 

8.9 

25.7

29 

27.33 

17.4 

62.7

18.8 

27.5

21.3 

33.6 

57.0 

44.23 

12.10

36.63

28.55 

42.95 

21.5 

19.0

12.23

56.8 

6.51 

23.2 

22 

11.50

52.25 

25.75 

16.35 

33.88 

34.47

42.9 

31.5

f44.1 

39.32 

13.8 

11.8

19.2 

8.60 

50.2

9.27

Discharge 

(cfs)

424 

22,800 

24,200

20,000

9,140 

24,500 

6,010 

9,500 

697

3,900 

20,800 

52,800

15,600

29, 600 

23,000

274,000 

23,000 

32,000

37,000 

48,000 

221,000 

25,500 

3,860

83, 600 

95,000 

83,400 

14, 100 

14,200

1,270 

238,000 

1,900 

26,000

9,790

227,000 

82,200 

35,500 

151,000 

126,000

106,000

75,000

148,000 

9,910 

5,060

16,000 

3,060

163,000 

2,720

February -March 1961

Date

Feb. 19 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 26 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25

Feb. 27 

Feb.21,2J 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25 

Feb. 25 

Mar. 1 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 24 

Feb. 25 

Feb. 22

Feb. 24 

Mar. 3 

Feb. 18 

Feb. 25

Feb. 25

Mar. 7 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22

Feb. 23 

Feb. 22

Feb. 24 

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22, 2C

Feb. 24 

Feb. 22

Feb. 27 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23

Gage 

height 

(ft)

5.24 

17.83 

10.92 

12.5 

24.7

26.39 

15.42 

14.2 

17.8 

5.47

13.01 

22.58 

25.4 

3.80 

20.97

25.82 

16.60

60.65 

5 6.03 

28.65

20.10 

9.99 

58.35 

42.66 

21.07

35.35 

28.90 

43.80 

24 

15.75

14.15 

60.0 

19.64 

22.00

16.28

55.15 

17.50 

12.75 

28.30 

26.82

38.03 

29.07

35.09 

12.93 

i 14.21

18.90 

10.11

41.72 

11.97 

18.83

Discharge 

(cfs)

810 

9,750 

3,130

11,500

22,400 

3,430 

5,200 

676

4,200 

25,500 

45,400 

551 

9,270

 24,400 

14,200

283, OOQ 

3,800 

48,000

32,000 

5,300 

284,000 

23,200 

10,000

91,000 

93,000

5,540

1,650 

284,000 

7,200 

20,200

267,000 

12,500 

7,310 

25,000 

31,600

28,000 

47,000

77,000 

9,520 

6,700

14,000 

7,800

68,500 

8,100 

28,000

T

(yr)

2

28

6 

5 

7

8 

5

6

5 

6

80 

4

17 

1 

100+ 

15 

3

20 

19

1

85 

10 

9

70 

1

2 

3

3

4

3 

13

4 

13 

100+

See footnotes at end of table.
STREAMFLCW DATA 19

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges. Continued

Station 

Ho.

2-4470 

2-4475 

2-4480

2-4485 

2-4490

2-4494 

2-4500 

2-4520 

2-4530 

2-4539

2-4540 

2-4545 

2-4550 

2-4555

2-4560

2-4565 

2-4570 

2-4605 

2-4626 

2-4628

2-4635 

2-4640 

2-4645 

2-4650 

2-4654

2-4655 

2-4660 

2-4670 

2-4675. 

2-4680

2-4695 

2-4696

2-4700

2-4711

2-4720 

2-4725

2-4730 

2-4735 

2-4745

Stream and location

MOBILE RIVER BASIN (Coat.>

Mobile River at U. S. Interstate Hwy. 65 site.. 

Mobile River at U. S. Hwy. 90..................

PASCAGOULA. RIVER BASIN

Drainage 

area 

(sq mi)

753 

440 

812

1,140 

8,700

11.7 

368 

971 

188 

116

130 

147 

309 

625

81.5

887 

22.8 

84.1 

5.7 

45.2

108 

220 

366 

4,828 

56

72.2 

5,797 

15,400 

606 

63

112 

86.3

19,100 

143

752 

304

1,760 

233 

612

Maximum floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Gage 

Year height 

(ft)

1QK1 _ _

1951 23.88 

1892 34

1 QC 1

1951 42.7 

1949 53.9

1959 13.11 

1936 24.0 

1957 53.1 

1946 11.49 

1951 24.8

1957 24.9 

1954 25.1 

1942 19.2 

1908 60 

1949 

1948 23.1

1949 47.9 

1959 6.5 

1955 13.38 

1960 4.5 

1957 11.1

1951 22.5 

1956 

1916 31 

1951 30.7 

1916 30.9 

1955 18.43 

1900 67.7 

1951 

1951 15.8 

1958 11.7

1956 . 8.37 

1951 .59.1 

1900 52.25 

1951 27.6 

1956 15.98

1956 17.25 

1916 25 

1960 23.10 

1884 51.8

1940 26.2

1856 33 

1900 33& 

1943 

1900 33.6 

1943 

1919 26

1 QA "7

1900 30|

1QA7 ______

Discharge 

(cfs)

21,900 

55,000

52,000 

37,600 

168,000

1,530 

46,600 

47,300 

8,050 

11,600

7,350 

7,750 

47,000

60,700 

11,600

55,300 

1,300 

6,020 

887 

2,630

8,380

18,000 

11,300 

223,000 

956

3,540 

183,000 

227,000 

21,500 

1,630

4,570

4,000 

280,000

7,000

20,100

71,300

13,700

19,300

February-March 1961

Date

Feb. 25 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 

Feb. 24 

Feb. 26

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23

Feb. 23 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22

Feb. 23 

Feb. 21

Feb. 23 

Feb. 21

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21

Feb. 22

Feb. 28 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22

Feb. 18 

Mar. '4,5 

Mar. 11 

Mar. 10

Feb. 22

Feb. 23 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 25

Gage

height 

(ft)

20.53

30.01 

40.39 

50.95

21.42 

18.51 

25.37 

13.10 

24.75

30.70 

29.65

13.91

53.38 

21.88

48.6 

10.37 

19.04 

7.16 

18.30

22.23 

30.3

33.10 

66.80 

14.38

9.84 

60.3 

35.66 

29.35 

18.03

20.13

23.05 

48.24

27.12

31.85 

26.8 

31.53 

22.36 

25.07

Discharge 

(cfs)

31,700 

14,000

22,000 

27,500 

114,000

29,000

11,000 

11,500

9,500 

23,500

47,000 

12,000

55,000

 

5,900

13,800 

17,600 

26,200 

227,000 

7,000

7,200 

213,000 

250,000 

28,000 

12,000

6,300

4,000 

251,000 

515,000 

533,000

16,000

48,000 

35, 700 

72,200 

18,800 

33,000

T

i(yr)

100+

10 

6

3

60 

5

2 

4

6 

10

11

 

8 

24 

50 

50+

47 

40 

26

40

50 

50+ 

30 

50+ 

50+

See footnotes at end of table.
20 FLOODS OF FEBRUARY-MARCH 1961 IN THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges Continued

Station 

No.

2-4746.5 

2-4750

2-4755 

2-4760

2-4765

2-4770

2-4771.5 

2-4775

2-4785 

2-4790

2-4791 

2-4795

2-4805 

2-4810

2-4814 

2-4814.5

2-4820

2-4825 

2-4830

2-4840 

2-4850

2-4860 

2-4873 

2-4875 

2-4876 

2-4876.2

2-4885 

2-4890

2-4892 

2-4894 

2-4895

2-4900 

2-4905

2-4905.5 

2-4907 

2-4907.5

Stream and location

PASCAGOULA. RIVER BASIN {Coat.)

BUJOXI RIVER BASIN

WOLF RIVER BASIN

PEARL RIVER BASIN

Pearl River at Meeks Bridge near Canton, Miss..

Middle Fork Hickory Flat near Tylertown, Miss..

Drainage 

area 

(sq. mi)

19.1 

3,510

368 

289

51.9

913

23 

1,660

2,680 

6,600

560

92.4 

98.3

71 

21.6

898

313 

411

2,780 

3,100

429 

55.1 

25.3

5,040 

5,690

39.9 

158 

6,630

12.1 

502

1.37 

12.6 

130

Maximum floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1951 

1900 

1943 

1950 

1938 

1950 

1936 

1951

1900 

1950 

1957 

1900 

1947 

1938 

1944 

1900 

1938

1959 

1959

1907 

-09 

1957 

1948 

1957

1960 

1953

1902 

1935 

1951

1950 

1951 

1932 

1951

1902 

1960 

1950 

1955 

1950

1902 

1950 

1874 

1938 

1955 

1950 

1938 

1947

1948 

1936 

1950 

1953 

1953 

1955

Gage 

height 

(ft)

94.54 

32

25.08 

29.5

26.5 

20.09

37.2

267.6 

50 

39.00 

34.12

32.5

26.30 

24.66

23

22.22 

23.3 

21.08

189.45 

14.44

29.0

,18.00 

d24.5 

23.00 

18.72 

26.4

37.2 

20.80 

33.0 

24.65 

26.29

33 

29.44 

31 

26.40 

19.0 

44.69 

21.0

11.0 

34 

33.50 

24.9 

19.2 

26.54

Discharge 

(cfs)

3,800

88,300 

30,700

16,300

8,030

33,500 

4,400

26,000

39, 600

154,000

7,300 

30,000

17,000

7,740

5,000 

2,030

31,400 

19,000

34,600 

19,000

57,800

80,800 

3,250 

24,800 

7,950 

9,050

59,300

72,000 

11,300 

8,800

60,000 

4,020

45,700 

2,300 

12,800 

12,400

February-March 1961

Date

Feb. 18

Feb. 26 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 

Feb. 21

Feb. 23 

Feb. 22

Feb. 26 

Feb. 28 

Feb. 27

Feb. 21 

Feb. 22

Feb. 19 

Feb. 19

Feb. 18 

Feb. 18

Feb. 25 

Feb. 22

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23

Feb. 26

Mar. 1 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 22 

Feb.

Mar. 7

Feb. 24 

Feb. 

Feb. 22

Feb. 23 

Feb. 21

Feb. 22 

Feb. 

Feb. 

Feb.

Gage 

height 

(ft)

94.30

31.7 

25.8

26.14 

19.63

37.94 

268.32

47.90 

33.55 

30.6

28.20 

21.86

15.1 

18.9

191.94 

13.94

26.5 

16.03

19.85 

14.48

26.08

35.00 

26.35 

29.3 

22.71 

20.84

26.61

22.3

18.1 

49.14

21.70 

11.9

22.20 

16.28 

16.38 

26.51

Discharge 

(cfs)

3,100

128,000 

36>000

27,000 

7,500

60,000 

6,000

58,000 

73,500 

177,000

12,000 

17,300

4,810 

7,180

9,300

1,450

27,000 

6,500

23,000 

5,300

55,000

46,200 

16,000 

15,000 

2,400 

3,380

42,000

43,000 

9,200

87,000 

5,300

15,000 

370 

2,130 

12,300

T

(yr)

50+ 

50+

50+ 

20

50+ 

50+

40 

50+ 

50+

2

3

8

50+

3

14 

2

10 

2

10 

8 

5 

4

3

3

50+

50 

25 

2

IX) 

40

See footnotes at end of table.
STREAMFLCW DATA

Table 5. Flood stages and discharges- Continued

Station 

No.

2-4915 

2-4918 

2-4920

7-2680 

7-2710 

7-2740 

7-2830 

7-2885

7-2895 

7-2900

7-2910 

7-2925

7-2950 

7-3677

7-3680 

7-3690

7-3695 

7-3700

7-3750 

7-3750.5 

7-3755 

7-3760 

7-3765

7-3770 

7-3785

7-3801.8

3-5667 

3-5672

Stream and location

PEARL RIVER BASIN 4 e*rt* )

LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN

Boeuf River near Arkansas -Louisiana State line.

TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN

West CMckamauga Creek near Kensington, Ga. ....

Drainage 

area 

(sq. mi)

985 

1,107 

1,210

526 

10.3 

262

254 

767

1,460 

2,810

180 

750

182 

785

1,226 

361

309 

782

95.5 

145 

646 

242 

79.5

580 

1,330

28.5

161 

73

Maximum floods

Prior to 

February 1961

Year

1943 

1955 

1943

1955 

1957 

1955 

1955 

1958

1926 

1951 

1951 

1958 

1939 

1949 

1953 

1948

1948 

1958 

1958 

1947 

1958 

1948 

1958

1953 

1953 

1953 

1943 

1953

1955 

1921 

1953 

1953

1948 

1951

Gage 

height 

(ft)

18.46 

43.77 

15.9

29.32

23.72 

24.11 

28.31

23.7 

22.20

39.74 

16.37 

37.8

16.2 

22.8

19.31 

28.72

24.78 

26.00

22.26 

20.47 

23.13 

19.75 

19.73

18.18 

35.4

10.00

24.3 

18.5

Discharge 

(cfs)

50,000 

52, 100 

51,200

79,000 

3,980 

44,100 

61,400 

9,300

49,400 

58,600

30,900

59,400 

39,900

14,700 

3,070

26,800 

4,610 

4,760

18,000 

15,000 

50,500 

9,680 

9,550

55,700

67,000 

4,800

9,650

February -March 1961

Date

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23

Feb. 21 

Feb. 20 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 20 

Feb. 24

Feb. 24

Feb. 28 

Feb. 18

Feb. 18 

Feb. 17

Feb. 23 

Feb. 26

Feb. 24 

Feb. 24 

Feb. 24

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 22 

Feb. 23 

Feb. 21

Feb. 19

Feb. 20 

Feb. 22

Feb. 23 

Feb. 23

Gage 

height 

(ft)

18.5 

45.26 

17.04

23.97 

4.50 

21.10 

20.24 

27.2

18.45

34.52 

7.22

23.30 

9.84

22.64 

15.08

26.42 

20.67 

23.39

22.09 

19.93 

21.28 

16.55 

15.87

12.22

25.63 

7.63

8.83 

14.8

Discharge 

(cfs)

50,000

56,000

19,800 

1,120 

9,320 

12,000 

7,700

12,000

17,000 

6,000

17,000 

12,000

15,800 

2,100

23,000 

2,800 

5,020

14,600 

13,600 

37,700 

5,180 

4,930

7,800

22,600 

2,000

2,800 

5,000

T

(yr)

30

13

2

1 

2 

3 

ID

1

2

1

5

1

25+

4 

4

11

11 

2 

3

2

5

a Maximum dally discharge.

b Site and datum then in use.

c Extensive regulation.

d Rating altered by channel clearing*

e In pool of Weiss dam completed in 1961,

f At site 1,100 feet upstream from gage.

1ST.DOP.,0.0.61- 93605