DISTRICT
WEATHER
ELEVEN
STATION
Name _______________________________________ Class
______________
Date _______________________________________
FLOOD INVESTIGATION
Current Flooding Activities
A. Determine where flooding is currently occurring and is expected to be taking place in the United States.
This information may be found on the following web pages: Current Flooding, NWS Hydrologic Information
Center: Flood Summary, NWS Significant Flood Outlook, and Current Locations Above Flood Stage
(NWS/HIC). Complete the table below:
Date: February 15, 2016
Time of Report
River Affected
Area Affected
B. Verify the significance of the flooding events listed in the table above. Go to Current Locations Above
Flood Stage (NWS/HIC). See “Current River Conditions” section of Current Flood Data Resources for
additional sources of current stream flow information. Complete the table below:
River
Height Above Flood Stage [Obs. Stage Flood Stage (ft.)]
Area(s) Affected
C. View the latest radar summary, radar estimated one-hour precipitation and satellite-derived
instantaneous estimated rainfall rate chart (see “Radar”, “Radar Estimated One Hour Precipitation” and
“Satellite Derived Estimated Rainfall Rate” sections of Current Flood Data Resources) to determine the
intensity of the precipitation that is currently occurring in the river area noted above. Complete the table
below:
River
Intensity of the Precipitation at This River
Location
Location of Heaviest
Precipitation
D. View the latest hydrologic statements for the rivers you selected by clicking on the appropri-ate Weather
Service Forecast Office links at Areas of Responsibility for National Weather Service Forecast Offices and
Days 1-5 forecasts for precipitation amounts. Do you expect river levels to increase or decrease?
Complete the table below:
River
Effects of Flooding Activities
Forecast
A. In order to predict the possible effects and/or outcomes of the flooding events described above on the local
environment where the flooding is currently occurring, an understanding of the physical setting of each area is
required. Geographic and topographic maps of the flood areas that you listed above may be found in the
"Geography Resources" section of Current Flood Data Resources. First, download a map (one by one) of each area
at the ESRI/FEMA Hazard Awareness Site. After the initial map is made, click on the number 2 next to the map to
pinpoint the location in which you are interested. Recenter the map by clicking within it on the exact location that you
wish to examine. Then click on the number 1 to zoom in even closer. "Move along" the river by continuing to click at
the point of the river where you wish to move. Take notes, listing the places along the river that may be endangered
by flooding.
A second web site, the TerraServer Home Page, also provides excellent, detailed USGS topographic maps of the
United States. Follow these steps:
1. Type in the name of the city, state (where you have determined that flooding is taking place) under the heading
"Find a specific place."
2. Click on the "go" button.
3. Click on "USGS Topo Map (Date)"
4. Click on "Large" just above the map.
5. Zoom in on the city (town) by clicking at the point where the river is closest to the city.
6. Continue to zoom in (click on map) until you reach the maximum (2m) enlargement level. Pan along the river's
banks clicking on the map at a point close to the edge of the water. Take notes as you pan, indicating specific
landmarks that you believe may be affected by the flooding.
B. Summarize your results in the table below:
City (town), State
Landmarks That May be Affected By Flooding
My Conclusions
Based upon the activities above, I have come to the following conclusions about the flooding now in progress at the
river locations I have explored:
City (town), State
Conclusions