Great Flood of 1993

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/great-flood-of-1993

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Great Flood of 1993?Approximately 30,000 square miles (78,000 km2)
2. What is the event duration?April to October 1993, lasting over 200 days in some areas
3. What is the affected river systems?Mississippi River and Missouri River and their tributaries
4. What caused the Great Flood of 1993?A long‑lasting weather pattern with a high‑pressure ridge over eastern Canada and a trough over the western U.S. pushed moist storms across the Midwest, making the rivers overflow.
5. How long did the flood last?In some places it stayed for more than 200 days, making it one of the longest floods in U.S. history.

Atmospheric Blocking: A large-scale weather pattern that prevents the normal movement of storms and weather systems.
Hydrological: Relating to the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth.
Floodplain: An area of low-lying land adjacent to a river that is subject to flooding.