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 Page Page Abstract.......................... 1 Flood damages.......... 6 Introduction ...................... 1 Aerial photography..... 8 General description of the floods, 1 Incomplete field data.. 8 Louisiana....................... 2 Streamflow data........ 10 Mississippi..................... 3 Records of discharge, 10 Alabama......................... 6 Summary of peak stages and discharges. 10 Georgia......................... 6 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 prepared the isohyetal maps from Weather Widespread, prolonged, disastrous floods struck parts of Bureau data compiled by the districts. Notes Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida in the text acknowledge data furnished by following heavy rains Feb. 17 26, 1961. Three distinct low-pressure systems recurred in essentially the same area. others. W. P. Somers, Floods Section, pre­ Precipitation totaled more than 18 inches in some areas. pared the text. Multiple floods of small streams became superimposed in the large rivers to produce rare, record-breaking peaks and prolonged inundation. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOODS Four lives were lost; one in Louisiana and three in Mis­ A succession of low pressure systems sissippi. Highways, railroads, urban areas, and farms were heavily damaged. originating in the Gulf of Mexico moved north­ ward and northeastward during the period INTRODUCTION February 16-26,1961. Associated squall lines caused extreme variations in intensity and The data presented fall short of the cover­ total precipitation during the storm periods. age needed for a complete flood report. Many indirect measurements were staked at mis­ On February 17, 7 to 9 inches of rain fell cellaneous sites in anticipation of later com­ in an area from Bogalusa, La., northeastward pletion. Hundreds of miles of stream profiles through Purvis, Hattiesburg, and Shubuta, were staked similarly. Miss., and into southwestern Alabama. During the period February 18-20 following this The principal data presented are in a sum­ heavy burst, 1 to 3 inches of rain fell rather mary table of flood stages and discharges. steadily over a wider area. Totals for the The records were collected as part of the period February 17-20 are shown on the cooperative programs between the Survey and isohyetal map, figure 1. State agencies. The following district engi­ On February 21 and 22 up to 8 inches of neers supervised the work of Surface Water rain fell in a band parallel to that of the Branch district personnel: February 17 burst and roughly 50 to 100 Louisiana F. N. Hansen miles north. The band extended from Amite, La., through Columbia, Collins, Meridian, Mississippi W. H. Robinson Miss., and through Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Alabama L. E. Carroon Ala., into the northeastern section of Ala­ bama. Small amounts of rain fell following Georgia H. H. Odell, acting this second intense burst. Totals for the H. H. Barnes, Jr., assisted by J. L. Pat- period February 20-23 are shown on the terson, flood specialist, coordinated district isohyetal map, figure 2. efforts at indirect measurements, flood pro­ On February 24 and 25 heavy rains cen­ filing, and report preparation under the gen­ tered along a line parallel to the first two eral supervision of Tate Dalrymple, chief, storm areas but east of them. The band ex­ Floods Section, Washington, D.C. Many Fed­ tended from southwestern Alabama through eral, State, municipal, and private agencies Greenville, Montgomery, Lafayette, Ala., to furnished information. H. H. Barnes, Jr., 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, Louisiana figure 3. In northeastern Louisiana, Boeuf River The rapid succession of 3 heavy storms near the Arkansas-Louisiana State line ex­ accumulated totals of more than 18 inches of ceeded the peak discharge of the 1958 flood, rain in southeastern Louisiana and Missis­ the previous maximum of a short record. sippi and in central and southern Alabama. The totals for the 3 storm periods February Downstream at Girard the Boeuf River flood was less than 3. 2-year event. Just west of 17-26 are shown on the isohyetal map, figure 4. Girard, Bayou La Fourche near Crew Lake peak discharge substantially exceeded a 25- All the isohyetal maps are necessarily year recurrence interval flood. Other generalized because of the extreme varia­ streams in the vicinity had peaks less than tions of intensity and accumulation. They a 4-year flood. serve to emphasize the features of the three storms in relation to the resulting floods. In the Florida Parishes of southeastern Louisiana, Pearl River at Bogalusa (drainage Prior to the floods, January streamflow area, 6,630 square miles) reached a 50-year was appreciably below median in a wide band peak discharge to set a new maximum of 23 from central Mississippi, most of Alabama, years record. Pearl River Slidell (8,700 and northern Georgia. Louisiana runoff was square miles) peaked at 150,000 cfs (cubic more nearly normal or above. 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 ticularly intense in the vicinity of Purvis, April. Smaller streams in the vicinity-- floods occurred on streams tributary to Bogue Chitto, Tchefuncta, and Tangipahoa West Hobolochitto Creek, on Wolf River, Red Rivers reached peaks equivalent to not Creek, and the middle reaches of Black Creek. greater than a 13-year flood. Floods west The crest of Black Creek at Brooklyn was of the Tangipahoa River basin were minor. higher than any previously known. Mississippi The February 21 storm was intense in the vicinity of Columbia, about 25 miles north­ Peak discharges were outstanding in southern Mississippi and high in the Sun­ west of Purvis, and extended over the upper flower River basin in the delta area of north­ reaches of Black Creek, the middle reaches western Mississippi Because there were two of Bowie River, and the upper reaches of principal concentrations of rainfall, small Leaf and Chickasaw Rivers. Near Columbia, streams with short concentration periods Silver Creek overtopped