An analysis of atmospheric conditions for the summer of 1993 showed a stationary high pressure system, also known as the Bermuda High, centered much closer to the United States than normally observed for that time of year. This allowed unusual amounts of warm moist air to be transported northward from the Gulf of Mexico and into the central portion of the country. This moisture-rich air fueled showers and thunderstorms that brought significant amounts of rain to many regions of the Midwest. Precipitation totals were so large and of such extended duration that normal means of surface water removal (transpiration, groundwater, and runoff) were inadequate. Rivers doubled, even quadrupled in size, as nearby towns succumbed to the floodwaters.