| Popis: |
Heavy rainfall occurred across South Carolina during October 1–5, 2015, as a result of an upper atmospheric low-pressure system that funneled tropical moisture from Hurricane Joaquin into the State. The storm caused major flooding from the central to the coastal areas of South Carolina. Almost 27 inches of rain fell near Mount Pleasant in Charleston County during this period. U.S. Geological Survey streamgages recorded peaks of record at 17 locations, and 15 other locations had peaks that ranked in the top 5 for the period of record. During the October 2015 flood event, U.S. Geological Survey personnel made about 140 streamflow measurements at 86 locations to verify, update, or extend existing rating curves, which are used to compute streamflow from monitored river stage. Introduction The presence of an upper atmospheric low-pressure system over the Southeast funneled tropical moisture from Hurricane Joaquin into South Carolina during the period October 1–5, 2015, causing historic rainfall amounts (http://www.weather.com/news/news/stunning-meteorologicalimages-october-2015-flooding, accessed October 8, 2015) (fig. 1). Widespread, heavy rainfall resulted in major flooding in areas from the central part of the State (fig. 2) to the coast (fig. 3). Some areas experienced more than 20 inches of rainfall over the period October 1–5, 2015 (fig. 4; National Weather Service, written commun., October 7, 2015). One USGS raingage at Black River at Kingstree, South Carolina (USGS station 02136000), recorded 22.89 inches of rain for the period October 1–5, 2015 (fig. 5). Flooding from Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data at Selected USGS Streamgaging Stations for the South Carolina Flood of October 2015 By Toby D. Feaster, John M. Shelton, and Jeanne C. Robbins Figure 1. Infrared satellite image of the intense rainfall being funneled into South Carolina during the morning of October 3, 2015. (NASA) 2 Preliminary Peak Stage and Streamflow Data at USGS Streamgaging Stations for the South Carolina Flood of October 2015 Figure 2. Aerial photograph of flooding in Columbia, South Carolina, at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda Rivers, looking upstream. (Photograph by the South Carolina Army National Guard, October 5, 2015) Figure 3. Aerial photograph of flooding in Charleston, South Carolina, and surrounding areas, October 5, 2015. (Photograph by Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Lehmann, U.S. Coast Guard) |
