180 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW MARCH, 1924
north Pacific passed inland at a high latitude and exerted but little effert on the weather of the Pacific coast states. During the last decade of the month a series of small storms, some moving southeastward from the Washington coast and otiiers movin inland from off the northern
portion of the district and broke the long drought in California. Storm warnings were ordered as follows : Northwest warnings at, Snn Francisco on t.he lltsh, and at Point Reps on the 18th: and southwest warnings from Port Sitn Luis to San Diego on the 20th. Livestock warnings were issued in eastern Oregon and Itlaho on the 14th; and in Nevada, Idaho, eastern Oregon itnd eastern Washington on the lsth, sncl 37th. The follow’ conlmendation of these warnings is extracted
I eastern Oregon branch of tile Oregon Agricultural Colle e:
‘‘ dany thanks for your telegrams relative to changes in weather conditions. This information was inimedi- ately given to our stockmen, and I assure you it was t ~p reciated very much. ”
frost warnings were issued as follows: 13th, in Oregon, 15th, Ore on and Washington; lGtli, northern California; lSth, a n 8 23d, Oremon and Washington; 25th, Oregon and Washington; 27t%, northern California; 29th? interior
o f California; 30th, nortliern California and Oregon.- G. H. Wdl-~on.
California co:mt, passec P eastward over the southern
from ”9 a etter received from the superintendent of the
‘’ &%IS AND FLOODS
By H. C. FRANKENFIELD, Meteorologist
Exoept for the floods of March 28-29 in the upper Potomao River, and on and after March 89 in the Monongahela and Ohio Rivers and their tributaries,
was thought to have at least equaled the latter flood. Many towns were flooded, houses and bridges carried itway, hi hways overflowed and destro ecl, and great.
Kitzniiller, Md., five {ves were lost in the rush of the flood waters, but there were no other fatalities except one in the Shenendoah River near Harrisonburg, Va., and another at Washington, D. C. The flood was articularly destructive in the vicinity of Cumberland, %d., but fortunately without loss of liman life. The following report on the Cumberland Aood was pre ared by Dr. Harvey H. Weiss, river and cooperative o f server and health officer of Cumberland :
During March, 1924, heavy snowfalls occurred throughout western Maryland. During most of the month all roads were blocked with drifts of snow, in some cases 15 to 20 feet high. The mountains were also covered with at least 3 to 4 feet of suow. On the morning of March 29, 1924, the maximum tem- perature having risen on the 26th to 6 5 O , a heavy rainfall occurred, beginning at about 2 a. m. The rainfall between 2 a. m. and 8 a. m. was 1.63 inches. This rainfall, together with the snow washed down fron various mountains, brought down a tremendous ainouirt of water which emptied into the PoPoinar River, and at
tlnruage % one in man other respects. 9 n the town of
8 a. m., March 29 the water had risen to 8 feet at the Cumberland, (Md.) ga e. The reading on the 25th of March was 4 feet 3 inches. Wills (!!reek which flows into the Potomac River at Cumberland was out of its banks at 8:30 a. m. At this time the lowlands along the river at Cumberland and also the lowlands of Ridgeley, W. Va., which is opposite Cumberland, were beginning to flood. The Potomac River rose at the rate of 1 foot per hour until 3 p. m. and then the rise was about 1+ foot per hour until 6 p. m., when the river remained stationary for about one hour and then began to recede. The river gage being only able to measure 10 feet, the height from 11 a. m. on was estimated by the observer. According to measurement after the water receded it was found that the river at the gage had reached a height of 19 feet 24 inches. This reading may be high because of the fact that the water at the bridge may have been turbulent and therefore pushed higher than the actuallevel.
“flats” was covered with 3 feet of water.
-
By 2 p. m. the entire lowland of Cumberland known as the Wills Creek flooded the main business section of Cumberland to a height of 3 feet. Mechanic Street, one of the main streets of the city, was like a
river bed, the water rushing down the street at a great velocity. At 6 p. m. the crest of the flood waa reached. By this time tele- phone, telegraph, and electric wires had been torn away, putting the city in complete darkness. Half of the west side of Cumber- land was under 5 feet of water, and the center of the city contained about 4 feet of water. Most of the paving was washed away. The water had entirely receded at 5 a. m. on March 30 and cleaning up began immediately. There was no loss of life in Cumberland . because of the flood. The property loss including railroad damage and bridges washed away was about 94,000,000 at a conservative estimate. From all information available the water on March 29, 1924, was 24 feet higher than at any previous time in the history of Cumberland.
The South Branch of the Pobomac River was not so
high, yet the flood was one of considerable roportions, and with t,he flood from t,be North Branc E , caused a severe flood below the junction of the North and South Branches, overflowin all lowlands, t.earing out banks
railroad tracks, and doing much ot.her damage of a miscellaneous character as far as tbe mouth of the Shenancloali River, escept in the vicinity of Har ers
although t,he river reached a stage of 30.7 feet on March
30, or 2.7 feet above the flood shge. The rise in the S1ienandon.h River did not rekch flood pro ortions, and
dangerous, although t.here was considerable overflow u t various places.
The damage done by the flood probably amounted to
as much as $6,000,000 exclusive of railroad losses. Highway roads and brid es were reported to have been
Warnings were first issued for the flood on March 89, but t.he early interru tion of telegraph service above Cumberland .preventel the receipt of accurate informa- tion, and the warnings were therefore not as effective as t,liey would otherwise have been.
The conditions antecedent to the floods in the Monon- galiela River of West Vir inia and in the streams tributary to the Allegheny giver in Pennsylvania were very similar to those that caused the Potomac floods, although they were not nearly so destTuctive. The crest stage at Pittsburgh, Pa., was 29.2 feet, or 7.2 feet above the flood stage, on March 30, and the damage done in the Pittsburgh river district amounted. to about $1,000,000. However, the value of
re orted to have been about $10,000,000.
$he flood waters continued down the Ohio River, and
at the close of the month the river had passed the flood stage of 40 feet at Point Pleasant, W. Va., at the mouth of the Great Kanawha Rker. The crest stage at
of the Chesapeake & 8 hio Candin many places, flooding
Ferry, ’SV. Va., where. the drtniage done was negligi % le,
as a consequence the flood below Harpers 3 erry was not
damaged to the extent o f about $1,500,000.
though the accurate and timely floo
&ECH, 19% MONTHL1' WEATHER REVIEW
Parkersburg, W. Va., was 40.2 feet, or 4.2 feet above flood stage, at 10 a. m., A ril 1, and at Point Pleasant
These crest stages were also very accurately forecast, and there were no losses or dama e of consequence. Report on the flood in the Olio k v e r and its tribu-
taries below the mouth of the Great Kanawha River will appear in the MONTHLS WEATHER REVIEW for April,
1924. The floods in the Muskingum, Hocking, and Scioto Rivers of Ohio also occurred on March 29, 30 and 31.
They were well forecast and passed off with very little
damage. In the Miami River there was some o v d o w of low- lands unprotected by levees, but very little damage. to reports the flood protection system took
care A"ordi3 of surplus water exactly as had been calculated. The Santee River of South Carolina was in moderate flood durin virtually the entire month, and there was
on March 21 and 32. Both floods were forecast a t the proper times and the losses aa reported amounted to
only $3,465. The value of property saved through the warnings was reported at $17,900.
In the Tombgbee and Black Warrior Rivers of Ala- bama there were floods of considerable pro ortions on
feet above flood stage, at Demopolis, Ala., on March 14
and 15. The river at Demopolis had been above flood stage since February 37, and the bottom lands from that place to the mouth of the river were inundated. Statements as to losses from this flood were very in-
dehite, and totaled only $1,650. n e y wererba,bly somewhat greater. The value of property save through
the warnings that were issued was reported as $24,250.
Floods in the Pearl and West Pearl Rivers of Missis- sippi and Louisiana were moderate and caused but little damage. The usual wmings were issued. The flood of Mar& 29-31 in the Maumee River of Ohio was caused by the heavy rains of that Warnin were issued promptly and no material amage resulte%;s The rise in the upper Grand River of Michi- gan waa inconsequential. flood in the west Gulf district, River of Texas durin the latter
Trinidad southward. There had
also been a previous flood over t,he extreme lower por- tion of the river which continued from April 1 to S,
inclusive. At Dallas, Tex., the river reached a stage of 34.0 feet on March 25, or 9 feet above the flood stage. Warnings were issued frequently and as a result live- stock and other movable property were salvaged, and as cro s had not yet been planted, the losses were negli- bfe. The reported value of property saved through $e warnings was $30,000. An ice go e that formed during the night of March 7-8 in the ?+%souri River near Blencoe, Iowa, about 65
miles above Omaha, Nebr., continued for about 34 hours, and between 3,000 and 4,000 acres of valuable farm lands were inundated and several families were com-
pelled to leave their homes.
44.5 feet, or 4.5 feet above i! ood stage, at 8 a. m., April 2.
also a mal K flood in the Saluda River of the same State
March 6 and 7 and a second crest of 52.8 P eet, or 13.5
aeriod-
the river was still in d ood at the
99175-244
Above flood !itagedates
River and station
1 From-
__ - ;. .. .- _]-
ATLANTIC DRAINAGE
Prdornac: Cumberlslid. Md. _________. . _.__. __ __.I
EAST GULF DRAINAGE
Coosa: Lock No. 4, Lincoln. Ala. _._______
Tombigbee: Aberdeen Miss ______.______.
Lock No.h, Demopolls, Ala __________.
Black Warrior: Lock No. 1U. Tuwdrnsa Ala. - - - __. -. - -. - - - - __ __ . __ -. . . . -. - - -.
(!hiekasisnwhay: Enterprise, Mi&<.. . . __ -. -. Pearl: Jackson. MIS _________....
West Pearl: Pearl Rlver. La.. .....
GHEAT LAIiER DRAIXAi:I[
Maiimee: ForL Wayne. Ind _______. ___._____.___
Napoleon, Ohio. ___ . -. . . . . - -. . - - - - - - -. St. Joseph: Montpeller. Ohio. __. .____ ____
Auglaire: Deflance, Ohio- ___ -. . . .. ___.___
Grnnd: Eaton Rapids, Mieh- __________ Grand Ledge, Mieh ____ .__________ .___
1118SISSIPPI DRAIN.AOE
Stony Creek: Johnstown, Pa-. - __- -_____ KiskirninetaP: Saltsburg, Pa.- ___________ Monongahela: Lock No. 15 Hoult W. Va Lock No. 10: Morgintown, W. Va Lock No. 7. Martin Pa Loek No. 4, Penns lvania Cheat: Rowlesburg, \j: Va _______________ Youghlo henv: conhenie. Pa _______________ ________. West Newbn. Pa Ohio: Pittsburgh, Pa __________ _________ ____ Lock No. 2, Coraopolis, Pa Dam No. 6 Beaver, Pa Dam No. 15. near Wheeling, 14'. Va-.. Marietta, Ohlo Parkersburg. W. Va Dam No. 19, near Tallman, W. Va Dam No. 22, W. Va Point Pleasant, W. Va
Zanesvllle, Ohio _____ - __ - - - - - __ - McConnellsville, Ohio. - Marietta, Ohio
Coshocton. Ohio- - ___________. -. __ Qnadenhut.ten, Ohio _______ __. -
Musklngum:
Turcarnwas:
W'rrlhonding:
Hocking:
Sciuto:
Walhonding, Ohio. - -. -. . . - - - - - - - -,
Athens, Ohio __.___ ___________.___
~
____
LaRue. Ohlo ... ________ ____
~
Prosoect. Ohio.. __ ___ ___ __ - -. - - _____ -.
~~~~
13ell oint, Ohio Clr&ville. Ohio ______________________. Cbllllcothe, Ohio _________. ____________ Oleontangy: Delaware. Ohio Miaml: Sldne 7. Ohio ____. Middietown, Ohio- - __ - ___ -. - - __ ___ -. Mad: Sprlngfleld. Ohio _________ __ _______ Stillwater: Pleasant Hill. Ohio ____
Rluflton. Ind _________________________. Lalayette, Ind- - - ____________________. Terre Haute, Ind _____________________.
Wabnsh:
Whlte. East Fork: Seymour, Ind
I Continued from Isst month.
; Continued at end of month.
I Below flood St* at 8 8. m., Mar. 1.
15
10
10
10
5
7
10
8
23 El 30 31 12
10
22 28 30 36 33 36 39 42 40
25 22 30
8
10
8
17
11 10 9
10 16 9
12 15 10 13
12 11 16
10
m
29
:a 6
29 30
5
6
29
30
29 29 29 30 4
29 30
30 30 30 31 30 31 31 31 31
30 30 31
30 6
30
29
30
29 29
30 30 30 29
29 31 29 29
31 2.5
30 31
-
To-
30 31 31 2
6
10 16
d' 22
8
7 22
7
9
w
'"a3
8
8
7
7 8
30 30
20 28 30 30 as
30 30
31
{<
(2)
(9 (9
(9
(9
8
30 31
31 7
30
31
31 30 31 31 29
29
29
31
30
6; ('1
181
Creat
Feet la a za7 8.0 28.4
la 0
15. a 12 8 1% 4 13.7
I 4 8
17. 1
33.8 528
53.6
2 2 2 28.8
13.6 14. 1
__--_.
._ - - - .
19.2
la 8 12 0 12 1
5.2 7. a
la o
1G. 0 11.8
!a 6 za.8 38.9 41.4 1 2 3
19.0 25.3
29.2 29.8
39.8 38.4
38. 9 39.4
.____-
25.8
25.0
12 3 11.3
. - - - - -,
12 n
17. 8
14.0 11. 4
16.3 22.9
la 0
1 2 6 15.4 11.5 15.0
12.0
io. 2
. - - - - -.
. - - - - -.
-
Date
MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW MARCH, 1924
-4 bore flood stagesAstes
LFr
182
Crest
Stage Date
Biver and station
1 3 18 I8 20 22
18 25
20 (1)
31 (3 8 "'15 31
(1)
Guadalupe: Virtorh, Ter _________________ -______-----
1 Continued from last month. a Continued at end 01 month.
I
4 5 2 1
m.3 3 7.8 18 7.Q I t
34.0 21
37.2 2f3
________ _______._ 28.8 2 4
245.1 21-22
Flood
stsoe
-
Fed 12 14 lQ 14 33
13 14 7 18
14 12
24
6
18
a0
25
7
46 28 40 25
I8
a0
--
('I ___
1 1 19.4 Feb. 29
I - -
I M i d - 1 I Superior I gun and
I I Huron
MEAN LAKE LEVELS DURING MARCH, I924
By UNITED STATES LAKE SURVDY
[Detmit, MI&.. Apr. 4, lgZr1
The following data are reported in the "Notice to Mariners" of the above date:
Erie
Data
: Ftrf ;
601.07 I
Mean stage of February, 1W ______ __'
-0.28
Mean stage of March 1823 ___________ -0.40 Average stage for Mar&, last 10 years./ -0.67 I Highest recorded March stage. ___ __ - - 1.25 Lowest recorded March stag& _______ +a 41 Average relatlon of the March level
Mean level during March, I W : Above mean sea level at New York ______ -4hove or below- I
to- February level ____._____________ __________ +O. 1
-
1 Lake St. Clair's level: In Marrh, l W , 573.50 Ieet.
578.69 5 7 l .a 1 I F''
-am -0.01 : -0.27 +O.% i -1.28 -0.38: --cm -250
-n.T +a43 I I
Ontario
Fed
244. I
+o. 03 +a 14 -0.80 -2 Q3
+a 58
EFFECT OF WEATHER ON CROPS OPERATIONS MARCH, AND 1934 FARMING
By J. B. KINCEB
Much of March was unseasonable cold in all except
the extreme northern portions of the country, and raifi- fall was frequent in most of the principal agricultural districts, though the total falls were considerably less
than normal from the Ohio and middle Mississi i
unfavorable for spring work, and the preparation of soil and the seeding of cro s were considerably delayed. of the month and the last week were favorable for fie1 work, but other- wise the continued wet soil and low temperatures were decidedl unfavorable. The p f anting of cotton was very backward at the close of the month, though some plantin had been done in
Florida Peninsula. Planting in Texas was confined to the southern third of the btate, and ermination and
of the unfavorable weather. There was considerable
corn planted the latter part of the month in the South, and at the same time much ground was prepared in cen- tral districts, but the preparation for planting was behind the average season. The weather was generally favorable for wheat in the States between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, and the cro continued in ood condition,
unusually favorable. This cro showed some greening
on the whole the weather was rather unfavorable in that area. There was fre uent alternate freezing and thaw-
and Illinois and in Kentucky. It was fairly favorable for work in the spring wheat belt, although the latter part of the month was stormv and cold and but little work could be accomplished. I't was generally unfavorable for seeding oats in the interior valley States and this work became much behind. Early seeded oats made fairly good progress in the Southwest, however, and im rove
Meadows and pastures showed general improvement in
the Southeastern States and rain the latter part of the month eat1 benefited grass lands in California, where i!t had prevailed. There was considerable
together with the cold, was rat4her unfavorable for st,ock, but at the same time the precipitation was beneficial for the range, though more rain was needed in psrts of the Southwest. There was more or less dama e to fruit in west Gulf
frost damage was reported from the far .northwestern States. There was considerable frost injury to early fruit also in Arizona, and to eaches and apmcots in the north Pacific States during %e week ending March 25.
On the whole, however, the continued cool weather was favorable for fruit interests and no wideapread harm had occurred at the close of the month. Trees were back- ward in budding out and blooming, which tended to lessen the danger of damage from frost. There W ~B some damage to truck crops in the southeast b heavy rains,
and replanting truck in the Southern States.
Valleys southward. The cool weather was genera PP 7
In the Southern States t T: e first few da
the southern portions of the east G lflf States and in the
progress of the early planted was genera 5 y poor because
r
especially in t,he Plains tates, where so1 gi moistures was
up in the Ohio Valley States at t E e close of the month, but
winter qnl -'lling resulted in many localities, especially in T t e central and southern portions of Indiana ing, and hea
ment was noted in most other portions of the Sou 2 .
severe stormy weat OUT ier in the Rocky Mountain districts which,
districts about the loth, and at t % e same time some slight
%
and low temperatures were very unfavorab s e for planting