32 



BULLETIN" 1017, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



From the 130 storms 13 were selected for which the precipitation 

 was exceptionally heavy over considerable area. The date, duration, 

 and location of each storm and amount of precipitation at one sta- 

 tion are shown in chronological order in Table 9. Three storms of 

 maximum intensity for areas which vary in size from 300 to 35,000 

 square miles were selected for more detailed study. Depth-area 

 curves for these three storms are shown in figure 10. The run-off 

 resulting from each of these three storms was measured at stream 

 gaging stations at one or more points in the watershed. 



Table 9. — Storm precipitation on Red River watershed in the United States. 



Year. 



Date. 



Length 



of 

 storm 

 period. 



Total 

 precipi- 

 tation at 

 center of 



storm. 



Location of storm center. 



Maximum 

 24-hour 

 precipi- 

 tation at 



one 



observing 



station. 



1897 

 1897 

 1899 

 1900 

 190S 

 1909 

 1915 

 1915 

 1916 

 1916 

 1916 

 1919 

 1919 



June 27-29 

 July 17-22. 

 Aug. 17-20 

 Aug. 4-11 . 

 Aug. 26-31 

 July 20-22. 

 June 10-13. 

 June 26-28. 

 Apr. 18-21. 

 May 13-16. 

 June 28-30. 

 June 20-23. 

 July 1-4. . . 



Bays. 

 3 

 6 

 4 

 8 

 6 

 3 

 4 

 3 

 4 

 4 

 3 

 4 

 4 



Inches. 

 4.66 

 7.42 

 8.18 



10.50 

 6.93 



11.10 

 3.91 

 5.04 

 2.58 

 3.34 

 3.84 

 6.13 

 9.02 



Amenia, N. Dak.. 

 Wil'd Rice, N. Dak 

 Leech Lake, Minn. 

 Alexandria, Minn . 

 Crookston, Minn . . 

 Beaulieu, Minn . . . 



Detroit, Minn 



Mayville, N. Dak.. 

 Campbell, Minn... 

 Fullerton, N. Dak. 

 Beardslev, Minn.. 

 Cando, N. Dak.... 

 Warroad, Minn 



Inches. 

 2.35 

 5.86 

 4.31 

 3.15 

 5.85 

 10.75 

 2.75 

 3. 98 

 2.26 

 2.94 

 3.67 

 5.30 

 - 4.92 



The storm of July 17-22, 1897, covered the entire Red River water- 

 shed. The precipitation was the maximum of record during any 

 storm covering the entire watershed and was maximum for any 

 portion of the watershed 8,000 to 35,000 square miles in area. 

 Isohyetals for the storm are shown in figure 11. Following this 

 storm there occurred the highest stage of record at Grand Forks for 

 July and August, and the total discharge of the river for August. 

 1897, was the recorded maximum for August. Less than a month 

 earlier than the July storm (June 27-29) another storm had occurred 

 which may have increased the run-off after July 17 in certain 

 localities. 



During the storm of July 1 to 4, 1919, precipitation was the maxi- 

 mum that has been recorded on areas of 2,000 to 8,000 square miles 

 within the Red River basin. Isohyetals for this storm are shown 

 in figure 12. This storm produced very high stages on Red Lake 

 River, Thief River, Clearwater River, Roseau River, and Two Rivers. 

 and caused heavy losses from drowned crops in eastern Marshall 

 County and in Roseau County. Minn. Nine inches of rain fell in 

 four days over an area of approximately 390 square miles. 



