National Water Conditions

Conditions for the month of July 1997

Up to 7 inches of rain fell in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin on July 16-17. Adams County, Wisconsin, experienced localizes flooding after receiving 3 inches of rain in 3 hours.

On July 24, heavy thunderstorms hit south central Minnesota with up to 5 inches of rain. Flash flooding was a problem in Lonsdale, Le Seur, Montgomery and New Prague, Minnesota.

Monroe County, Illinois, received over 3.5 inches of rain in an hour on July 27 flooding roads and low-lying areas.

July monthly mean flow was recorded on the streamflow index station on the Crow River at Rockford, Minnesota. July's average flow was 4,470 cubic feet per second (ft3/s), and 757 percent of median.

Intermountain West Region
Heavy rainfall ranging from 1.5 to 6 inches saturated the area around Sidney, Montana, on July 1-2. Kittlelson Dam located 15 miles north of Sidney failed causing flooding on First Hay Creek.

Heavy rain of almost 4 inches in an hour hit the Denver, Colorado, area on July 19. Streets and some residences in the eastern parts of Denver were flooded stranding cars and filling basements. On July 21, Weld County, Colorado, had up to 5 inches of rain which caused small streams and creeks to flood.

Up to 5 inches of rain fell over parts of Colorado on July 25 and again on July 27. The Denver area and Golden, Colorado, reported stream and street flooding. Very heavy rainfall on this already saturated area caused disastrous flash flooding in the Fort Collins, Colorado, area on July 28. 8.41 inches of rain was reported near the Colorado State University campus. Five people died when a mobile home park was hit by a rapidly rising Spring Creek. More rain hit Colorado on July 29 and 30 causing small stream flash flooding, mudslides, and further evacuations.

Four streamflow index sites in Idaho and Montana have been above-normal for at least seven consecutive months. The Yellowstone River at Corwin Springs, Montana, is 138 percent of median and has been above-normal for 9 months. The Snake River at Weiser, Idaho, 175 percent of median, and the Yellowstone River at Billings, Montana, 145 percent, have been above-normal for 8 months. The Clearwater River at Spalding, Idaho, 177 percent of July median, has been above-normal for seven months.

Mid-Atlantic Region
Heavy rainfall with rates of 1.4 inches in 30 minutes hit western Pennsylvania on July 1-2. McConnelsburg reported almost 4 inches of rain. Roads and basements were flooded by the resultant flash flooding.

The reorganized remnants of Hurricane Danny brushed New Jersey on July 24. The Raritan River basin received 4 to 7 inches of rain in 24 hours which caused flood crests about one foot above flood stage.

A drought has been developing in parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region. An up-to-7-month dry spell has affected areas from northern Virginia to New York state. Year-to-date precipitation is only around 50 percent of normal in much of this area. July flows of the Potomac River near Washington, District of Columbia, were in the normal range but only 71 percent of the long-term (1961-90) median flow for July. The Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was only 52 percent of median and below-normal for July.

Southeast Atlantic Region
Very heavy rainfall in West Virginia and Virginia caused flooding on July 1-2. Madison County, Virginia, received almost 8 inches of rain causing small streams and the Rapidan River to experience rapid rises.

Scotts Hill, North Carolina, reported 8.1 inches of rain in about 5 hours on July 8. Flash flooding in the area resulted. On July 9, parts of Georgia received 2 to 4 inches of rain in 3 hours during heavy thunderstorms.

The remnants of Hurricane Danny moved through Georgia nd into North Carolina on July 22-23. Badin, North Carolina, near Charlotte, received a total of 10.30 inches of rain from this system. Severe flooding was experienced from the Florida panhandle through north Georgia and North Carolina up to Virginia and West Virginia. Three people died in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Three gages in North Carolina established new record peak stages. For more information about flooding in North Carolina.

On July 26, up to 3 inches of rain fell across the Fort Meyers, Florida area causing street flooding.

The Greensboro, North Carolina, area had widespread urban flooding after up to 3 inches of rain fell on July 28-29. The Hampton Roads, Virginia, area was also hit with 2 to 3 inches of rain on the date.

Eastern Great Lakes Region
On July 3, the Livonia/Smithfield area in Michigan was deluged with up to 4.25 inches of rain. Flash flooding resulted across the area. On July 6, 6 inches of rain fell in Morlette, Michigan, from a strong thunderstorm.

Creeks and streams rose to bankfull stage in Warren County, Ohio, on July 14-15 after 4 inches of rain.

Nearly 6 inches of rain from July 21-23 in northern Indiana caused the Maumee river to rapidly rise to flood stage. The river rose 6 feet in 4 hours on July 23.

On July 27, Licking County, Ohio, received up to 8 inches of rainfall which caused widespread flash flooding.

Mid-Continent South Region
On July 5-6, heavy showers caused localized flooding in Texas and Louisiana. Five to 7 inches of rain hit parts of Texas and rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour hit the area around New Orleans, Louisiana. More storms hit Texas and Louisiana on July 7-8, locally dropping over 4 to 6 inches of rain. On July 8-9, Slidell, Louisiana, recorded almost 4 inches of rain.

Southwest Missouri received up to 5 inches of rain overnight on July 8-9. Flash flooding and rapid stream rises resulted.

New Orleans, Louisiana, had flooded roads on July 9-10 after 2 to 3 inches per hour rainfall was produced by thunderstorms.

On July 11, heavy thunderstorms dropped up to 8 inches of rain on parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas causing widespread flash flooding. Some moderate flooding along the Neosho River in Oklahoma was experienced. On July 13, over 3 inches of rain fell in one hour near Iberia, Louisiana, which caused flash flooding problems. Wharton County, Texas, had 2 to 4 inches of rain in an hour on July 14. Tulsa County, Oklahoma, had road flooding on July 15 after 3 inches of rain. More rain, 3 to 6 inches, fell on July 16 in Kay County, Oklahoma.

Ochiltree County, Texas, received 3 to 5 inches of rain on July 28-29. Alpine, Texas, reported 3.2 inches of rain in an hour. Widespread flash flooding resulted. Amarillo, Texas, reported 2.74 inches of rain in 50 minutes on July 29. Groves, Texas, reported 2.3 inches of rain in one-half hour on July 31.

Flows at the streamflow index gages on the Washita river near Dickson, Oklahoma, and the Guadalupe river near Spring Branch, Texas have been above-normal for seven and six consecutive months, respectively.

New England and New York Region
Franklin County, Massachusetts, received over 3 inches of rain on July 4 which caused flash flooding on small streams throughout the area. Berkshire County, Massachusetts, was hit by heavy rain of 1 to 3.5 inches and localized flooding on July 8.

Litchfield County, connecticut, had over 3 inches of rainfall in parts of the county on July 10. On July 14-16, severe thunderstorms hit Vermont and New York. Rainfall totals up to 6 inches were reported. Roads and bridges were washed out in many areas in Vermont and evacuations were necessary in Montgomery and Eden, Vermont.

Mid-Continent North Region
Minor flooding along the Missouri River from Williston, North Dakota through Missouri persisted throughout July. Most of this high flow was due to reservoir released in the upper Missouri basin. recreational and agricultural areas were most affected.

Wichita and Liberal, Kansas, suffered from flash flooding on July 8. Over 6 inches of rain was recorded on the gage near Meade State Park in a little over 3 hours. some moderate flooding along the Neosho River was experienced.

York County, Nebraska, suffered urban and small stream flooding on July 9-10 after 5 inches of rain. The West Fork of the Big Blue River experienced rapid rises. More rain fell on July 10-11 driving York County totals up to 11 inches. Wilbor, Nebraska, in Saline County reported over 5 inches. The Big Blue River and Turkey Creek also reported flooding.

North and South Dakota were hit by severe thunderstorms on July 11 and 12. Jones County, South Dakota, received over 6 inches in less than 3 hours on July 12 causing rapid rises on the White River. Cavalier County, North Dakota, had radar estimates of up to 14 inches of rain in 6 hours on July 12.

Heavy rainfall from thunderstorms hit parts of South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas on July 19. Flash flooding resulted. Algona, Iowa, received 5 inches in 3 hours as did Pratt County, Kansas. Parts of South Dakota received rainfall at the intensities of 3 inches per hour.

Heavy rains of over 5 inches hit parts of South Dakota and Iowa on July 24. Flooding was experienced on Deadwood and Whitewood Creeks in South Dakota and Squaw Creek near Ames, Iowa.

Cheyenne County, Nebraska, experienced some flooding problems following 3 inches of rain in 90 minutes on July 26. Oskosh, Nebraska, received 4 inches of rain on July 31 which flooded many streets and caused rapid rises on small streams.

Southwest Region
Pima County, Arizona, had up to 3 inches of rain fall overnight on July 9-10, filling washes and arroyos with water.

Up to 4 inches of rainfall on July 22-23 in Coconino County, Arizona, caused urban and small stream flash flooding.

Santa Cruz County, Arizona, received 3 to 4 inches of rain in less than an hour filling washes to bankfull stage on July 29.

The streamflow index station on the San Pedro River at Charleston, Arizona, set a new minimum July mean flow. Phoenix, Arizona, ended a 117 day stretch with no measurable precipitation on July 30 when 0.16 inches of rain fell.

Mid-South Region
Flash flooding was widespread over parts of Mississippi on July 10 after thunderstorms dropped rain at rates of 3 inches per hour.

Graves County, Kentucky, received up to 3 inches of rainfall on July 13 which cause streets and small streams to flood.

Hurricane Danny formed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved ashore across the mouth of the Mississippi River and then into southern Alabama on July 18-19. This slow-moving storm dropped 25-30 inches of rain in a 25-30 hour period on July 19-20, in the Mobile, Alabama, area. Rain from the remnants of Danny continued in Alabama and Mississippi through July 21 when Choctaw County, Alabama, received between 10-15 inches. Several gages in Alabama recorded peak stages and flows of record. The Fowl River near Laurendine, Alabama, had a flow about 1.5 times the 100-year flood. The Fish River near Silverhill, Alabama, and the Blackwater River near Elsaner, Alabama, were estimated at about 50-year flood peaks. For more information about flooding in Alabama.

Flooding of low-lying areas resulted after strong thunderstorms dropped 2-3 inches of rain in an hour over Harrison county, Mississippi on July 26.

Alaska
Flood Warnings were posted on July 29-31 for the Nebesna River near Northway, Alaska, the Chisana River near Northway, Alaska, the Tanana River at Big Delta, Alaska, and the Salcha River near the mouth in Alaska following heavy rainfall. Roads to Northway were closed due to the flooding.

Two of four streamflow index stations in Alaska had below-normal flow in July. The Chena River at Fairbanks, Alaska, was only 35 percent of the July median flow. The Tanana River at Nenana, Alaska, was 87 percent of median.

Hawaii
One of the three streamflow index stations in Hawaii had above-normal flow in July. A new maximum July monthly mean flow was recorded on the Honopou stream near Huelo, Maui, Hawaii, of 14.2 cubic feet per second (ft3/s), 533 percent of median.

Puerto Rico
Both streamflow index stations in Puerto Rico were below-normal. The Rio Grande De Manati at Highway 2 near Manati, Puerto Rico, set a new minimum mean monthly flow for July only 57 percent of median. The Rio Inabon at Real Abajo, Puerto Rico was at 40 percent of median.

Big Three Rivers
The combined flow of the three largest rivers in the lower 48 states-- the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and the Columbia--declined 38 percent from June to 1, 233,000 cubic feet per second (ft3/s). This flow is 25 percent above the long-term median and above-normal. The Columbia River at The Dalles, Oregon, declined 51 percent from last month but is still 129 percent of median and above-normal flow.