Report Documenting Record Rainfall and Flooding in July 1996 in Northeastern Illinois Released by USGS

Report documenting Record Rainfall and Flooding in July 1996 in Northeastern Illinois Released by the USGS

The July 1996 State record 24-hour rainfall in Northeastern Illinois resulted in record floods at 19 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) long-term streamflow gages, according to a report released by the USGS today. Senior report author, Robert Holmes, stated that "the record flooding occurred over a multi-county area of Northeastern Illinois with 11 of the 65 USGS continuous streamflow monitoring gages recording floods greater than the statistical 100-year flood. The streamflow data that we (USGS) collect is crucial to the flood forecasting efforts of the National Weather Service and the flood-fighting efforts of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Office of Water Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hydrologists and hydrologic technicians work long hours during flood events like this to collect the necessary data to provide the public and other agencies with accurate, reliable streamflow information. Our streamflow gages are telemetered into our office in Urbana, allowing near-real time availability of the USGS data on the World Wide Web." Streamflow data may be viewed on the Illinois District USGS web server at http:\\il.water.usgs.gov

The report titled "Floods of July 18-20, 1996, in Northern Illinois" by Robert R. Holmes, Jr., and Amanda L. Kupka has been released as U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-425. Copies are available for inspection at the U.S. Geological Survey, 221 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana, Illinois. Paper and microfiche copies can be purchased at cost from the U.S. Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver,CO 80225 (telephone: (303) 202-4700). Orders must include check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Interior--U.S. Geological Survey and must specify report number OFR 97-425.