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Flood of July 5-7, 1978, on the South Fork Zumbro River at Rochester, Minnesota

Open-File Report 79-1583
Prepared in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
By:

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Abstract

The intense thunderstorm of July 5-6, 1978, caused record flooding on the South Fork Zumbro River at Rochester, Minnesota. The peak discharge on July 6 was 30,500 cubic feet per second compared with 19,600 cubic feet per second for the flood of March 1965, which was the largest previously known. The 1965 flood had a recurrence interval of about 30 years, whereas the 1978 flood had a recurrence interval exceeding 100 years. The flood waters claimed at least 5 lives and 5,000 people were forced to leave their homes. Millions of dollars in flood damage was reported, and this report summarizes some of the flood data and a photomosaic map shows the inundated area.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Flood of July 5-7, 1978, on the South Fork Zumbro River at Rochester, Minnesota
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 79-1583
DOI 10.3133/ofr791583
Year Published 1979
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location St. Paul, MN
Contributing office(s) Minnesota Water Science Center
Description 1 Plate: 30.07 x 41.32 inches or smaller
Country United States
State Minnesota
City Rochester
Other Geospatial South Fork Zumbro River
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details