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<br />i <br />" <br /> <br />THE FLOOD OF 1993 <br /> <br />INGREDIENTS FOR A MAJOR FLOOD <br /> <br />The following weather facts tell why Iowa flooded in 1993: <br /> <br />Wettest period. Precipitation from January through September 1 993 was the greatest <br />amount, 44.5 inches, in 121 years of record; the previous record was 442 inches in <br />1881. <br />Wettest 12 months. Precipttation from September 1992 through August 1993 was the <br />greatest amount In history, 54 Inches; previous record was 49 inches in 1881. <br />Unusual persistence of rainfall, The Midwest had no previous record for such a sustained <br />period of precipitation, <br />Highest soil moisture. Soil moisture readings in August 1993 were the highest in history. <br />Cloudiest period. Cloud cover from November 1992 through August 1993 was the greatest <br />for that time period on record. <br />Lowest evaporation. Evaporation was the lowest in history. <br /> <br />Source: Hillaker, Harry, Iowa State Climatologist, Iowa Department of Agriculture, Special Summary, <br />Great Iowa Floods, 1993 (Des Moines, Iowa, September 7, 1993). <br /> <br />Figure 1.4 Weather Pattern, June-July 1993. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br />, <br /> <br />Source: U .$. Department of Commerce. NOAA, National Weather Service. <br /> <br />II <br />