Public Information Statement from National Weather Service

ABUS34 KWBC 211953
PNSWBC
WVZ048>055-VAZ021-025>031-038>042-050>055-MDZ001>004-009-013-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WASHINGTON DC
255 PM EST SUN JAN 21 1996

WITH SIGNIFICANT SNOW FROM THE BLIZZARD STILL ON THE GROUND...WARM
TEMPERATURES CAUSED A SUDDEN MELT SATURATING THE GROUND. WITHIN HOURS OF
THE DRASTIC MELT...A STORM SYSTEM MOVED INTO THE REGION DROPPING 2-3
INCHES OF RAIN WITH SOME LOCATIONS RECEIVING UP TO 5 INCHES. RAINFALL
QUICKLY BECAME RUNOFF AND FLASH FLOODING OF STREAMS AND CREEKS OCCURRED
FRIDAY...JANUARY 19TH. RIVER FLOODING BEGAN ACROSS THE HEADWATERS OF THE
POTOMAC...SHENANDOAH AND RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER BASINS FRIDAY AND DOWNSTREAM
LOCATIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. ALL RIVER FORECAST POINTS HAD WARNINGS
POSTED. THE WATER IS NOW RECEEDING AND SHOULD BE WITHIN ITS BANKS BY
LATE MONDAY AND EARLY TUESDAY.

THIS IS THE MOST RECENT FLOOD TO REACH THIS MAGNITUE ACROSS THE REGION.
THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF CREST HEIGHTS AND HOW IT COMPARED TO FLOOD
CRESTS FROM THE 1985 AND 1972 FLOODS.

                         FLOOD     JANUARY    NOVEMBER     JUNE
   GAGE                  STAGE      1996       1985        1972

MAIN STEM POTOMAC AND DRAINAGE ABOVE HARPERS FERRY...

CUMBERLAND MD            17 FT      25.6       18.8         --
PAW PAW WV               25 FT      40.9       53.6        28.8
HANCOCK MD               30 FT      36.4       41.2        30.8
CONOCOCHEGUE CREEK                  14.0        --         24.5
WILLIAMSPORT MD          23 FT      34.8       36.3        34.0
OPEQUON CREEK                       18.2
SHEPHERDSTOWN WV         15 FT  EST 32.5       31.4        31.7

SOUTH BRANCH POTOMAC...

FRANKLIN WV               7 FT      15.6       22.6         --
PETERSBURG WV (NEW GAGE) 12 FT      20.0
PETERSBURG WV (OLD GAGE)             --        21.8        16.2

SHENANDOAH RIVER BASIN...

WAYNESBORO VA           9.5 FT      13.6       15.3        14.3
LYNNWOOD VA                         24.9       29.5        23.5
COOTES STORE VA          15 FT      19.7       25.1        15.0
STRASBURG VA             17 FT      27.8       27.4        23.5
MILLVILLE WV           13.5 FT      23.6       25.6        21.9

POTOMAC DRAINAGE BELOW HARPERS FERRY...

HARPERS FERRY WV         18 FT      29.4       30.1        27.7
POINT OF ROCKS MD        16 FT      36.5       36.2        37.4
FREDERICK MD             15 FT      23.7        --         35.9
LEESBURG VA                         20.5        --         30.6
LITTLE FALLS MD/DC       10 FT      19.3       18.0        22.0
WISCONSIN AVE DC          7 FT      13.9       11.8        15.5

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER BASIN...

RAPIDAN NR CULPEPER VA   14 FT      18.1       22.5        26.2
REMINGTON VA             15 FT      21.1       19.7        24.8
FREDERICKSBG (CITY DOCK) 18 FT      20.5       20.0        39.1

HALL