Project design flood

[1][2] The current project design flood was developed in 1956 by the Mississippi River Commission with input from the Weather Bureau.

It is based on a scenario of three rain events in the lower Mississippi Valley occurring 3 days apart: the January 1937 (increased by 10%), January 1950, and then the February 1938 rain event with its center adjusted 90 miles (140 km) to the north and rainfall pattern rotated to achieve a hypothetical worst-case flood of the tributaries of the Mississippi River.

[1] In response, the United States Congress ordered the MR&T to review of the flood control plan.

The current project design flood was developed at the request of the Senate Public Works Committee in 1954.

[3] The Mississippi River Commission and the Weather Bureau worked together to investigate hypothetical flood conditions.