Floods of December 1961 in 

Mississippi and Adjoining States

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

CIRCULAR 465
Floods of December 1961 in 

Mississippi and Adjoining States

By James D. Shell

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 465

Washington 1962
United States Department of the Interior

STEWART 1. UDALL, SECRETARY

Geological Survey

THOMAS B. NOLAN, DIRECTOR

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

Page Page

Abstract ____________________________ 1 River profiles _______________________ 11

Introduction_._________________...,____ 1 Streamflow data _____________________ 11

General description of rainfall ________ 1 Records of discharge _____.__-_.___ 11

Description of flood._________________ 4 Summary of flood stages and

Flood damages ______________________ 9 discharges ______________________ 11

Aerial photography __________________ 10

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

Figure 1. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December

5-13,1961_____________________________________________________ 2

2. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December

14-18, 196 !_______________________________________________________ 3

3. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December

5-18,1961 _________________________________________________________ 4

4. Aerial view showing flooded area along South State Street at Jackson, Miss ______ 5

5. Aerial view showing flooded area along Gallatin Street in Jackson, Miss _________ 6

6. Aerial view of Jackson, Miss., showing flooding near time of peak, December

21, 1961 ____________________________________________________________ 7

7. Map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing recurrence interval in years,

of peak discharge at selected points, December 1961_____-___-____-__________ 8

8. Graph showing accumulated rainfall and stage of Sowashee Creek at Meridian,

Miss., December 5-19, 1961 _____________________________________ ______-__ 9

9. Graph showing accumulated rainfall and stage of Pearl River at Edinburg, Miss.,

December 5-20, 1961______________-________________--___-___-__---_------ 9

10. Map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing location of flood profiles to be

surveyed and aerial-photograph coverage, December 196!___________________ 10

TABLES

Page 

Table 1. Rainfall, in inches, at selected sites in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama for

period December 5-18, 1961___________________________________-___--_----_ 2

2. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Pearl

River at Edinburg, Miss _______________-__-__--__-_________-___-_-___--_-- 12

3. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Pearl

River at Meeks Bridge near Canton, Miss __________________________________ 12

4. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Pearl

River at Jackson, Miss ____________________________--__---_---_----_------ 12

5. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Big

Black River near Bovina, Miss ____________________________________________ 12

6. Flood stages and discharges.________.____._______.___--___--__--_-----_----- 13

HI
Floods of December 1961 in Mississippi and Adjoining States

By James D. Shell

ABSTRACT

floods occurred over parts of Mississippi, 

Louisiana, and Alabama after heavy rains during December 5 

18, 1961. A series of low-pressure systems produced as much 

as 19 inches of rainfall in some areas. Heavy rainfall, 7 to 

11 inches, on December 10 resulted in outstanding floods on 

small streams in southern Mississippi and southwestern 

Alabama. Subsequent rains produced multiple floods on small 

streams and outstanding floods of prolonged duration along 

the Big Black, upper Pearl, and lower Tombigbee Rivers in

At Jackson, Miss., the Pearl River reached the highest 

stage known. Along the east bank, flood waters topped or 

breached some of the levee system protecting the Flowood 

industrial area, but other parts were saved by extensive reinforcement and by emergency operation of the partially completed dam 10 miles upstream. Additional heavy damage to 

commercial and industrial property was prevented as a result 

of these measures.

Elsewhere, damage was restricted primarily to secondary 

highways and bridges. Two lives were lost.

INTRODUCTION

The data presented are intended to give a 

brief general account of the floods of December 1961 in Mississippi and in adjoining parts 

of Louisiana and Alabama that were affected 

significantly. Data for a complete report are 

not presently available but are being collected 

in anticipation of a more comprehensive report later.

These records were collected as a part of 

the cooperative programs between the U.S. 

Geological Survey and the various State agencies.

Work of the Surface Water Branch district 

personnel was directed by the following district engineers: F. N. Hansen, Louisiana; W. 

H. Robinson, Mississippi, and L. E. Carroon,

Alabama.

J.D. Shell, with advice and assistance of H. 

H.Barnes, Jr., flood specialist, collected and 

assembled the data. The report was prepared 

under the general supervision of Tate Dalrymple, chief, Floods Section, Washington, D. 

C. Various Federal, State, municipal, and private agencies furnished information and appropriate acknowledgment is given in the text.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF RAINFALL

A series of weather fronts associated with 

low-pressure systems, migrating northeastward from northern Mexico and the lower Rio 

Grande Valley, moved over Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama during the period December 5-18, 1961. These systems collided with 

cold-air masses moving southeastward from 

the Rocky Mountain area and resulted in a 

prolonged storm period during which rain fell 

in amounts totaling as much as 19 inches.

During the period December 5-9, rainfall 

was light over much of the area, with an average accumulation of approximately l£ inches. 

This precipitation produced no appreciable 

rises on the streams but did soak the ground 

thoroughly and caused high percentages of 

runoff from precipitation that fell later.

On December 10, heavy rain fell on a narrow belt extending from Bogalusa, La., northeastward through southern Mississippi and 

into southwestern Alabama along a line from 

Washington County to Wilcox County. Along 

this narrow band, as much as 11 inches of 

precipitation was measured. At Bogalusa, La., 

9.78 inches was measured. Immediately to 

the east of Bogalusa, in the White Sand community of Pearl River County, Miss., 10.52
FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

inches fell early on December 10. Other 

areas of heavy precipitation were in southeastern Mississippi at Beaumont, with 11.42 

inches, and in Alabama at Pinehill, Millers 

Ferry, and Selma, each receiving more than 

7 inches of rainfall.

Precipitation continued on December Hand 

12, with the heavier precipitation in central 

Mississippi over the Pearl and Big Black 

River basins. The isohyetal map (fig. 1) based 

on rainfall data furnished by the U.S. Weather 

Bureau and the Mississippi Forestry Commission shows storm rainfall for the period 

December 5 13. During the second storm 

period, December 14 18, heavier rains again 

fell over the Pearl aftd Big Black River basins, as indicated by the isohyetal map of 

rainfall for that period (fig. 2). The isohyetal 

map for the entire period, December 5 18, is 

shown on figure 3. These isohyetal maps are 

necessarily generalized because of the variations of intensity and accumulation. Figures 

of daily rainfall for a few selected stations in 

the area, shown in table 1, give detailed daily 

distribution of the precipitation.

EXPLANATION 

Rainfall, in inches

Figure 1. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December 5-13, 1961.
91

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF RAINFALL

89 88° 87°

EXPLANATION 

Rainfall, in inches

Figure 2. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December 14-18, 1961.

Table 1. Rainfall, in inches, at selected sites in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama for period December 5 18, 1961

Station

George County Fire Tower, near Lucedale, Miss.....

Millers Ferry, Ala............................................

Pine Hill, Ala.................................................

5

0

0

0

0

0

,05

T) 

.78

31

34

0

0

0

0

6

0.14

0

33

.06

.30

18

.25 

71

1.41

.68

0,

0

0

0

7

0

0

.08

Ofi

,08

.01

.10 

,01

',?,5

.14

0

0

0

0

8

0

9,8

Ofi

0

0

0

0 

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

0.08

1.08

.25

.08

.64

0

1.00 

.27

.40

.15

.21

0

.13

.14

10

9.78

7.87

4.75

11.42

9.64

6.18

5.00 

1.65

1.53

.84

7.75

7.80

7.08

8.10

Dece

11

0.96

,88

.27

58

2.00

1.30

2.00 

15

03

1 09

.31

.85

.10

1 60

mber

12

1.76

2 63

1,22

.67

3.27

,43

1.25

5 16

3 51

2.77

1 45

2 95

1 fi7

9 60

13

1*08

,46

,45

2.25

52

1,94

1.00 

,03

,19

03

2 56

2 58

1 90

9 00

14

0.19

,08

.55

.43

.40

.04

.10

48

,60

0 

39

,92

28

32

15

0.86

1,14

.85

,37

78

.48

1.00 

1.02

2 15

66

1 26

72

1.50

2.27

16

0.17

.57

.34

.49

,15

1.30

.75 

67

.18

.14

54

0

66

52

17

1.82

2.50

.8?

1.8.1

,85

.1.3

.25 

1,34

1,5F

3.19

1(1

0

3fl

31

18

1.21

1.76

2.41

1.32

1.05

.65

.60 

2.45

2.07

2.61

1.84

2.77

3,85

1.07

Total

18.09

19.25

12.38

19.56

19.68

12.69

13.30 

14.72

14.23

12.64

16.41

18.59

17.55

18.93
91

FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES 

90° 89° 88° 87° 86°

32

31

Figure 3. Isohyetal map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing rainfall December 5-18, 1961.

DESCRIPTION OF FLOOD

In general, only on small streams or on 

streams with short records of streamflow did 

the flood peaks exceed previous maximums. 

A few small streams, notably in the Pearl 

and Pascagoula River basins, reached peaks 

with recurrence intervals of 50 years or 

more.

Peak discharges along the main stem of 

the Pearl River ranged from a 12-year flood 

at Edinburg to a 2 5-year flood at Jackson, 

then flattened to an 8-year flood at Columbia. 

At Jackson, Miss., the Pearl River reached 

the highest stage known; the peak stage was 

slightly higher than the previous maximum, 

in 1902,although the peak discharge was less 

than that of 1902.

The east side of the flood plain at Jackson 

is occupied by an extensive network of ring 

levees north of U.S. Highway 80 that protect 

commercial and industrial property. This 

area is commonly known as Flowood. Some of 

the levees were overtopped, and only through 

coordinated efforts of municipal, county, and 

State agencies were some levees raised high 

enough to prevent the entire area from being 

flooded. Two gates of the spillway section of 

the partially completed dam on the Pearl 

River approximately 10 miles upstream from 

Jackson were closed late on December 20 to 

reduce the anticipated flood crest in the Flowood area. It was estimated that the crest at 

the gaging station at Jackson was reduced 

approximately 0.2 foot as a result of this 

action.
DESCRIPTION OF FLOOD

Figure 4. Aerial view showing flooded area along South State Street, Jackson, Miss.

U.S. Highway 80, linking Jackson and Flowood, was overtopped, but traffic was maintained by sandbagging critical points along 

the westbound lane. U.S. Highway 51, railroads, some principal streets, and commercial and residential property in southeast 

Jackson were flooded (fig. 4 and 5).

The extent of flooding by the Pearl River 

in the Jackson Flowood area is shown in the 

aerial photograph taken by the Mississippi 

Air National Guard near the crest on December 21, 1961 (fig. 6).

The extended duration of flooding on the 

Pearl River is noteworthy. At Jackson the 

Pearl River reached flood stage (18 feet) on 

December 11, 1961, and remained above this 

point until February 13, 1962, a period of 65 

days, as a result of the reported storm and 

subsequent rainfall. Prolonged high stages

during the period 32 days above a stage of 

28 feet delayed repairs to the damaged levee 

system. It is of interest to note that from 

February 19, 1961, to February 13,1962, Pearl 

River at Jackson was above flood stage a 

total of 127 days.

Downstream, at Bogalusa, La., the Pearl 

River reached an initial peak discharge of 

55,600 cfs on December 20 as a result of 

heavy rainfall during the period December 5 

13. The river then fell slightly but rose again 

as the upstream crest approached. It reached 

a peak discharge of 70,800 cfs on December 

29, which has a recurrence interval of about 

14 years.

Immediately east of Bogalusa, La., in Pearl 

River County, Miss., floods on small streams 

were outstanding. East Hobolochitto Creek at 

Highway 26, at White Sand, reached a stage
FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

Figure 5. Aerial view showing flooded area along Gallatin Street, Jackson, Miss.

0.3 foot higher than the peak stage in February 1961, and reached a peak discharge known 

to be in excess of a 50-year flood. The creek 

overflowed its banks and flooded many houses 

in the White Sand community.

Peak discharges on the upper Tombigbee 

River reflected the long duration and fairly 

even distribution of rainfall in northeastern 

Mississippi during the entire storm period. 

At Columbus the runoff from the several 

rainstorms coincided to produce a peak discharge of about a 21-year recurrence interval. Upstream from Columbus, the peaks 

were of progressively lower recurrence interval 12 years at Aberdeen and 8 years 

near Amory whereas on the tributaries upstream from Amory the peak discharges had 

recurrence intervals ranging generally from 

1 to 3 years. A map (fig. 7) showing recurrence intervals of peak discharge at selected 

points indicates flood peaks of smaller frequencies at sites on the tributary streams 

than at sites on the larger streams, where 

drainage areas are larger and precipitation 

time is longer.

At Columbus, UJ3. Highway 82 was overtopped and closed, as was Mississippi Highway 50. Floodwater inundated much of the 

area west of the rivers in the Columbus area. 

Many industries were forced to suspend operations and an estimated 45 families were 

evacuated.

The multicrest response of small streams 

to the time distribution of storm rainfall 

compared with the single crest of long duration enlarge streams is illustrated by figures 

8 and 9.
DESCRIPTION OF FLOOD

Figure 6. Aerial view of Jackson, Miss., showing flooding by Pearl River near time of peak, December 21, 1961. Photograph by

Mississippi Air National Guard.
FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

91° 90° 89

Recurrence interval, in years, of 

peak discharge

Figure 7. Map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing recurrence intervals of peak discharge at selected points, December 1961.
FLOOD DAMAGES

I I I I I I I I I I I

CUMULATIVE PRECIPITATION

10 12 14 16 

DECEMBER 1961

Figure 8. Graph showing accumulated rainfall and stage of Sowashee Creek at Meridian, Miss, (drainage area, 51.9 sq mi), 

December 5-19, 1961.

15

LJ 

O

- 5

in i i i r i I i I

CUMULATIVE DAILY 

PRECIPITATION

i i i i i i i i i i i i i

i i i i i i i i i i i i

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 

DECEMBER 1961

Figure 9. Graph showing accumulated rainfall and.stage of Pearl 

River at Edinburg, Miss, (drainage area, 898 sq mi), December 

5-20, 1961.

FLOOD DAMAGES

Damage resulting from the flood was limited mostly to highways and to municipal and 

industrial property in the Jackson, Miss., 

area. Because the flood occurred in the winter, agricultural damage was light and no 

estimates of it was made. Two persons were 

drowned in Mississippi.

Pearl River County, Miss., sustained very 

heavy damage to roads and bridges, especially on the secondary road system. About 

1,000 feet of newly constructed road was 

washed out. Estimates by the county engineer placed the damage to roads and bridges 

at about a quarter of a million dollars.

A preliminary estimate made by the Mississippi Highway Department placed the total 

damage to all secondary roads in the State at 

$1 million. Estimates of damage to major 

highways in the State by districts were as 

follows:

District Area in State

1 Northeast-____ $25,000

2 Northwest _____ 6,000

3 West central ____ 30,000

5 East central ____ 20,000

6 Southeast____ 35,000

7 Southwest_____ 36,300

Total ________________$152,300

The Alabama Highway Department made no 

complete cost estimate but reported damage 

to highways in at least 10 counties, principally 

in southwestern Alabama. In Marengo County 

there was appreciable damage to 6 bridges 

or fills, and 9 sections of highway were inundated. InClarke County 2 bridges were damaged. In Fayette County the Sipsey River 

overtopped a county road near Hubbertville, 

causing damage estimated at $15,500. InWilcox County there was extensive damage to 

State and county roads along Goose and Turkey Creeks in the vicinity of Kimbrough. 

Other counties in the area reported lesser 

damage.

Industrial damage and cost of flood protection in the Flowood area east of Jackson, 

Miss., was estimated as follows by Mayor 

Flynn of Flowood:
10 FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

Knox Glass Co_______________ $90,000

Other industries (total) _._. 30,000 

Cost of maintaining Flowood

levee _____________________ 40,000

Total ________________ $160,000

Complete data on damages to private property are not available. According to incomplete figures furnished by the American National Red Cross, 567 residences were flooded

in the Jackson, Miss., area and about 45 at 

Columbus, Miss.

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Aerial photographs by the Mississippi Air 

National Guard covered flooded areas along 

the main stems of the Pearl, Big Black, and 

Tombigbee Rivers, as indicated on the map, 

figure 10. These photographs, taken during

33'

EXPLANATION 

Profiles staked by 

Geological Survey 

Complete coverage 

O Single or mosaic coverage*

32°

31

Figure 10. Map of Mississippi and adjoining States, showing aerial-photograph coverage and location of flood profiles to be surveyed,

December 1961.
STREAMFLOW DATA 11

or near the crest stage, are available for 

use in inundation mapping.

RIVER PROFILES

At selected points along the Big Black, 

Pearl, and Yockanookany Rivers in central 

Mississippi, high-water marks were staked 

to define the flood profiles. From survey of 

these marks about 360 stream miles of flood 

profiles are being developed as is shown in 

figure 10.

In the Jackson area along Pearl River, the 

flood profiles were defined in more detail in 

anticipation of an inundation map now in 

preparation.

STREAMFLOW DATA

RECORDS OF DISCHARGE

At 3 stations on Pearl River and 1 on Big 

Black River preliminary figures of daily and

monthly discharge and runoff, in inches, for 

December 1961 are given in tables 2 5. At 

all 4 stations, Pearl River at Edinburg, at 

Meeks Bridge near Canton, and at Jackson 

and Big Black River at Bovina, the floods 

were noteworthy.

SUMMARY OF FLOOD STAGES AND DISCHARGES

Flood stages and discharges are summarized in table 6. The table gives in downstream order the station name, drainage 

area, and the maximum stage and discharge 

of record prior to and during December 1961 

with date of occurrence; and recurrence interval,!, of the December 1961 peaks. Recurrence intervals with a plus sign (+) indicate that the recurrence interval canbe much 

greater than the interval shown.
12 FLOOD OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

Table 2. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Pearl River at Edinburg, Miss.

Day

Dec. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Discharge

1,920

1,790

1,620

1,410

1,210

1,500

1,720

1,770

Day

Dec. 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Discharge

1,840

2,750

3,330

5,650

7,670

16,100

23,400

21,800

Day

Dec. 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Discharge

21,000

21,300

23,400

24,400

18,600

12,400

8,810

6,520

Day

Dec. 25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Discharge

5,280

4,470

3,620

2,860

2,350

2,020

1,880

Monthly mean, in cubic feet per second. 

Runoff, in inches___________>________.

8,210

10.54

Table 3. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Pearl River at Meeks Bridge, near

Canton, Miss.

Day

Dec. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Discharge

3,460

2,800

2,180

1,890

1,770

1,900

2,280

2,950

Day

Dec. 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Discharge

3,840

4,720

6,020

8,790

12,200

17,200

22,300

28,900

Day

Dec. 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Discharge

42,300

55,500

62,500

65,400

64,800

59,500

49,400

39,000

Day

Dec. 25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Discharge

31,000

24,500

20,000

16,100

12,800

10,100

7,880

Monthly mean, in cubic feet per second. 

Runoff, in inches_._>________________.

22,060

9.15

Table 4. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961 of Pearl River at Jackson, Miss.

Day

r/ec. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Discharge

4,970

4,360

3,670

2,960

2,620

2,490

2,600

3,280

Day

Dec. 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Discharge

4,450

6,130

6,750

10,700

12,000

16,000

21,400

25,400

Day

Dec. 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Discharge

34,900

43,500

53,500

62,800

64,900

64,500

63,000

58,200

Day

Dec. 25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Discharge

51,200

43,300

35,200

27,900

21,600

17,200

14,600

Monthly mean, in cubic feet per second. 

Runoff, in inches_____________________

25,360

9.43

Table 5. Mean discharge (preliminary), in cubic feet per second, December 1961, of Big Black River near Bovina, Miss.

Day

Dec. 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Discharge

7,580

7,620

7,480

7,140

6,670

6,650

6,950

6,800

Day

Dec. 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Discharge

6,940

8,590

9,400

11,700

12,100

14,800

20,400

28,800

Day

Dec. 17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Discharge

46,200

53,900

59,100

63,100

62,300

57,600

51,800

46,000

Day

Dec. 25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Discharge

39,400

32,100

26,800

23,000

19,900

17,200

15,000

Monthly mean, in cubic feet per second. 

Runoff, in inches__._>_-______>______.

25,300

10.36
Table 6. Flood sta£

Station

No.

2-3990 

2-3992

2-3998

2-4000 

2-4005

2-4058 

2-4060 

2-4079 

2-4085 

2-4100 

2-4150 

2-4205 

2-4210 

2-4230 

2-4240

2-4245

2-4255 

2-4256.55 

2-4273 

2-4277 

2-4290

2-4295 

2-4300 

2-4310

Stream and location

MOBILE RIVER BASIN 

Little River near Jamestown, Ala _________

Little River near Blue Pond, Ala __________

Little Terrapin Creek near Borden 

Springs, Ala. 

Terrapin Creek near Piedmont, Ala _______

Coosa River at Gadsden, Ala _ ____________

Talladega Creek above Talladega, Ala _____

Talladega Creek near Talladega, Ala _ ____

Paint Creek near Marble Valley, Ala _ ____

Hatchet Creek near Rockford, Ala _________

Sofkahatchee Creek near Wetumpka, Ala ___ 

Hillabee Creek near Hackneyville, Ala__ _ _

Autauga Creek at Prattville, Ala __________

Catoma Creek near Montgomery, Ala ______

Alabama River at Selma, Ala __ _ ___ _ ____

Cahaba River at Centerville, Ala __________

Cahaba River at Sprott, Ala .__ _ ___ _ _ __

Cedar Creek at Minter, Ala ________________

Mush Creek near Selma, Ala _ _~ 

Prairie Creek near Oakhill, Ala __ _ ______

HPii T*lrAT7 (~* T*Af*lr sit PC'1 TnV_T*r.n crV. A1 Q

Limestone Creek near Monroeville, Ala___. 

Alabama River at Claiborne, Ala___ ____

Mackys Creek near Dennis, Miss__________

East Fork Tombigbee River near Fulton, 

Miss.

Drainage

Q T*OQ

(sq mi)

120

194

15.9

115 

5,800

67.3 

98.4 

13.5 

244 

5.1 

196 

109 

298 

17,100 

1,029

1,378

217 

45.4 

9.73 

114 

117

22,000 

66 

605

es and discharges

Maximum flo

Prior to December 1961

Year

1948 

1961

1961

1948 

1886 

1936 

1961 

1951 

1961 

1946 

1958 

1957 

1919 

1961 

1961 

1938 

1961 

1961 

1938 

1961 

1955 

1961 

1961 

1929 

1961 

1961 

1955 

1955

Gage 

height 

(feet)

12.9 

10.08

8.24

13.3 

37.9

9.05 

19 

5.42 

24.9 

7.2 

25.7 

18.8 

28.65 

58.35 

36.63

28.90 

28.55 

24.58 

20.1 

14.15 

19.64 

22 

16.28 

55.15 

28.44 

25.75

Discharge 

(cfs)

21,800 

11,700

1,580 

21,000

76,900 

3,700 

33,000 

810 

22,800 

^856 

15,600 

23,000 

48,000 

284,000

91,000

95,000 

45,600 

22,100 

1,650 

7,200

30,600 

267,000 

16,300 

82,200

Date

Dec. 18 

Dec. 12 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 12

Dec. 12 

Dec. 20

Dec. 18 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 18 

Dec. ,18 

Dec. 10 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 12 

Dec. 13 

Dec. 22 

Dec. 18

Dec. 19

Dec. 13 

Dec. 14 

Dec. 12 

Dec. 10 

Dec. 10

Dec. 26 

Dec. 18 

Dec. 19
14 FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

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PASCAGOULA RIVER BASIN 

Leaf River near Collins, Miss____________

Bowie Creek near Hattiesburg, Miss ______

Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Miss __________

Tallahala Creek at Laurel, Miss__________

Tallahala Creek near Runnelstown, Miss___

Leaf River near McLain, Miss ___________

Waterfall Branch near McLain, Miss ______

Tarlow Creek near Newton, Miss _________

Okatibbee Creek near Meridian, Miss _____

Sowa;shee Creek at Meridian, Miss________

Chickasawhay River at Enterprise, Miss___ 

Pachuta Creek near Pachuta, Miss. _______

Chickasawhay River at Leakesville, Miss__

Pascagoula River at Merrill, Miss ________

Walls Creek near Brooklyn, Miss_________

Black Creek near Benndale, Miss__ _______

Red Creek at Lumberton, Miss ___________

Red Creek near Wiggins, Miss ___________

Flint Creek near Wiggins, Miss __________

Red Creek at Vestry, Miss___ ______ __

Escatawpa River near Wilmer, Ala _______

BILOXI RIVER BASIN 

Tuxachanie Creek near Biloxi, Miss_______

"D-f 1 /-w"i C~*Y*f*f*\c n ^a v AX/oytVia TYI TVFi Q a

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304

1,760

233

612

3,510

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15.9

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23

2,680

6,600

22.3

710

15.6

168

24.8

416

506

92.4

98.3

1856

1961 

1961

1900

1961

1919

1961

1900

1961

1900

1961 

1959

1961

1938

1961

1936

1951 

1961 

1961

1938

1961

1900

1961

1959

1959

1961

1960

1957

1961

1959

1907-9

1957

1948

1957

33

31.85 

26.8

33.6

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30.5

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31.7 

10.89

18.29

29.5

26.5

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37.94 

268.32

34.12

32.5

98.16

62.98

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147.49

16.17

18.40

24.66

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23.3

48,000 

35,700

72,200

18,800

33,000

128,000 

683

3,500

27,000

8,030 

60,000 

5,900

73,500

177,000

5,700

24,300

2,640

13,500

3,320

19,000

30,000

17,000

7.740

Dec. 19

Dec. 18

Dec. 20

Dec. 19

Dec. 21

Dec. 21

Dec. 10

Dec. 18

Dec. 18

Dec. 18

Dec. 19 

Dec. 18

Dec. 24

Dec. 22

Dec. 10

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Dec. 12

Dec. 13

Dec. 11

Dec. 10

See footnotes at end of table.
16 FLOODS OF DECEMBER 1961 IN MISSISSIPPI AND ADJOINING STATES

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2-4923.5 

7-2660

7-2680

7-2710

7-2740

7-2820

7-2830

7-2865

7-2885

7-2892.7

7-2893.3

7-2893.8

7-2895

7-2895.2 

7-2895.3

7-2896

7-2896.1

7-2898.5

7-2900

7-2905

7-2906.5

7-2906.9

7-2908.7

7-2910

7-2925

7-2950

East Hobolochitto Creek at Picayune, Miss.

LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN 

Cane Creek near New Albany, Miss _______

Tallahatchie River at Etta, Miss __________

Clear Creek near Oxford, Miss ___________

Yocona River near Oxford, Miss_ _________

Yalobusha River at Calhoun City, Miss ____

Skuna River at Bruce, Miss ______________

Thompson Creek at McCarley, Miss ______

Sunflower River at Sunflower, Miss _______

Hayes Creek near Vaden, Miss ___________

Zilpha Creek near Kosciusko, Miss _______

Jordan Creek near West, Miss____________

Big Black River at Pickens, Miss _________

Big Cypress Creek near Vaughan, Miss ___ 

Doaks Creek near Canton, Miss __________

Tilda Bogue near Canton, Miss ___________

Bachelor Creek at Canton, Miss __________

Bogue Chitto near Flora, Miss ___________

Big Black River near Bovina, Miss _______

Bayou Pierre near Carpenter, Miss _______

Bayou Pierre near Willows, Miss _________

Clarks Creek near Pattison, Miss ________

Coles Creek near Fayette, Miss __________

Homochitto River at Eddiceton ___________

Homochitto River at Rosetta, Miss ________

Buffalo River near Woodville, Miss _______

108 

22.2

526

10.3

262

305

254

14.4

767

13

90

15

1,460

76 

161

24.4

3.1

124

2,810

371

650

75

150

180

750

182

1958 

1955

1955

1957

1955

1951

1955

1959

1958

1955

1961

1926

1951

1959 

1951

1953

1953

1953

1951

1958 

1953

1959

1939

1949

1961

1948

87.08 

e9.08

29.32

11.66

23.72

15.22

24.11

12.48

28.31

27.49

24.99

23.7

29.83 

18.46

19.0

17.78

20.88

39.74 

25.95

24.03

16.37

37.8

16.2

6,200 

8,680

79,000

3,980

44,100

61,400

2,580

9,300

16,000

1,600

49,400

4,400 

13,000

8,800

1,000

21,000

58,600

24,400

23,500

30,900

100,000

39,900

Dec. 10 

Dec. 17

Dec. 18

Dec. 17

Dec. 18

Dec. 18

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 19

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 18

Dec. 17 

Dec. 18

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 18

Dec. 20

Dec. 18

Dec. 18

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 17

Dec. 12

aMay have been higher in February 1961.

bDischarge not determined.

c 1920 25; rating altered by channel clearing.

dAt site 200 ft upstream.

e Site and datum then in use.

INT.DUP..D.C.62- 10031