MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW.
August ................ September ............ October ............... November.. ____. . __ __ December.. ...........
The year.. ......
333
8.7 7.9 7.0 7.5 9.0
9.2
-
TBE AVERAGE STREAM FLOW OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER.
138.81 =2 5
By EUGENE D. EYIGE, Local Forecaster, Augusta, Qa.
38.8 38.7 28.5 24.5 31.0
Measurements of the stages of the Savannah River have been made at Augusta Ga., since September, 1875 and at Calhoun, Falls S. b., since 1901. At Carlton, Ga., on the Broad River, a tributary of the Savannah, records exist since 1901. The tables herewith present the average stages at the stations named for each month and the year. A table giving the average annual r e
On account of the relatively small amount of water ordinarily passing Calhoun Falls and Carlton it is not deemed necessary to add any comment to tlie tabular information concerning those points, but the importance of the location of Au usta on the Savannah River, with
warrants a more detailed treatment. Though the amount of run-off is fairly steady, tlie river is, of course, subject to wide fluctuations in height, which has ra ed from 2.5 feet in July and August, 1876,
and 27, 1908. When a 7-foot stage is reached the navi- ation of river craft beconies very difficult, and any fower level of the water will prevent the operation of boats. With the river below the 7-foot level, the de- velopment of full power by the water-power plants at Augusta also beconies impossible, although the river lias never yet been so low as to cause the complete shutting down of the cotton mills wliicli depend upon it for power. During tlie 430 months of the past 35 years river stages below 7 feet occurred in 240 months; of these, 14 were in January, 8 in February, 6 in March, 9 in April, 18 in May, 24 in June, 26 in Jul , 25 in August, 39 in Septeni-
The figures just given refer to extreme stages without regard to the duration of the period during which the water remained below 7 feet in de th. The river has
for more than a nionth at a time, and a number of months are represented by average stages of less than
7 feet. During the ast 35 years the month1 average
once each in February, March, and A ril, 9 times in 10 times in
August, 16 times in September, 19 times in October,
18 times in November, and 5 times in December. The flood stage at Augusta is 33 feet, but farm land farther down stream is oveiflowed at a st e of 20 feet.
durin the 35 years covered b tlie records. The most notabe K floods were those of eptember 11, 1888, and August 27, 1908, when the maximum st es attained were, respectively, 38.7 and 38.8 feet. B%uring such floods as these much damage to property is inevitable,
cipitation over tlie Savannah watershed is also inclu tT ed.
reference both to i 3 and navigation and water power,
to 38.8 feet T uring the memorable flood of August 36
ber, 28 in.October, 29 in Ny ovember, and 24 in December.
been known, however, to remain be Y ow the 7-fOOt stage
stage of the Savanna{ at Augusta has been be !r ow 7 feet
May, 8 times in June, 12 times in J u y , 7
The flood stage at Augusta has been reac T ed 15 times
91822-11-2
25 3.8 3.4 40 4 5
for the water stands severd feet deep over the business and much of the main residence districts. The high- est mean stages occur in February and March, 12.4 and 12.1 feet, respectively, while the stage is lowest in October, with a mean of 7 feet.
Mean and eztreme stages in the Savannah River at Augusta, Ga.,
1876 to 1910.
[Flood stage, 32 feet.]
The average stage at Augusta is 9.3 feet.
January ............... February .............. March ................. April .................. May ................... June ................... July ...................
Month.
3.6 11.0 2.1 August ................ 3.8 38.2 1.6 4.2 16.4 2.2 September ............ 3.3 17.2 1.5 4.1 16.5 2.4 Octoher ............... 2.8 9.9 1.0 3.4 12.9 1.4 November ............ 2.6 7.9 1.1 3.3 10.2 1.3 Dccember ............. 3.5 17.9 2.0 3.4 15.3 1.4 3.3 13.0 1.6 Theycar ........ 3.4128.2 1.0
January.. ............. February.. ............ March. ................
ay ................... June.. ................. July.. .................
A l p . .................
Jnnuarv ...............
March .................
ay ................... June ................... July ................. I.
Februiry ..............
A p l ... ...............
Meao H~gh-Low-
I .I i t . I est. II
~--- ---
3.4 19.0 2.0 August ................ 3.4 29.0 1.6 4.1 24.5 2.0 September ............ 2.7 148 1.4 4 1 23.2 20 October ............... 2.5 6.8 1.4 3.2 1'2.5 2.0 Novemher ............ 2.4 6.1 1.6 3.1 9.5 1.8 December ............. 3.3 19.9 1.7 3.0 12.7 1.6 3.0 8.2 1.4 Theyear ........ 3.3129.0 1.4 ---
~
11.0 12. 4 12.1 10.7 a 5 a6
ai
32.8 33.3 3b.b 32.2 32.5 3. 2 34.5
-
6.0 5.8 5.4 5.2 3.7 3.1 2.5
Month.
IAug.21 1908.
2 Stage oi0.0 feet murred in 1835; 2.5 occurred in July and August, 1876.
Meun and extreme stages in the Savunnuh River at Calhoun Falls, S . C., 1901 to 1910.
I I I I I I I I _.
1 Aug. 25,1908.
Mean and extreme stages in the Broad River at Carlton, Ga., 1901 to 1910.
(Flood stage, 11 feet.]
Mean. High- LOW-
1 I est. I est. 11
1 Aug. 25,1908.
Normal average rainfall over the Savannah watershed above Azlgusta, Ga.
[Cornjutad from records for stations at Anderson 8 C Augusts' Ga Carlton Qa.. 9. C., Eldertbn,"cta., G d w w d , 8. C., kolnt Ca o m Falls, 8. C., Clemson Colle Peter, Ga., Toccoa, Ga., Walhalla, PC., and Washington, Ga.]
Inrhes. January.. ......................... 4.21 February. ......................... 5.42 March ............................ 492 A ril ............................. 3.67
............................... 3.40 June .............................. 4.63
July.. ....................... .: .... 5.28
dY
Inches. August. ............................ 6.02 September. ......................... 3.90 October. ............................ 2.66 Novemher. ......................... 2.87 December.. ......................... 4 a7
The year.. ................... M. 35 -