Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Francou and Rodier (1967) empirical approach uses the original concept of envelope curves for the definition of the regional maximum flood (RMF). Kovacs (1980) adopted the Francou and Rodier empirical flood calculation method and applied it to 355 catchments in South Africa. He revised his study in 1988 to also include the southern portions of the Southern Africa subcontinent. No method other than the Francou and Rodier empirical flood approach in the reviewed literature was found to be suitable for the purpose of this study. Therefore the Francou and Rodier empirical approach, as applied by Kovacs in 1988, was reapplied and used in this study to update the RMF for Lesotho. Maximum recorded flood peaks were derived from annual maximum time series and an up to date catalogue of flood peaks for 29 catchments was compiled for Lesotho. The maximum recorded flood peaks were then plotted on the logarithmic scale against their corresponding catchment areas. There are 3 major river systems that divide Lesotho into hydrologically homogenous basins. Envelope curves were drawn on the upper bound of the cloud of plotted points for these 3 river basins. These envelope curves represent the maximum flood peaks that can reasonably be expected to occur within the respective river basins in Lesotho. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Francou en Rodier (1967) se empiriese benadering maak gebruik van die oorspronklike konsep van boonste limiet kurwes vir die definisie van die streeks maksimum vloed (SMV). Kovacs (1980) het die Francou en Rodier empiriese vloed berekening metode toegepas op 355 opvanggebiede in Suid-Afrika. Hy hersien sy studie in 1988 om ook die suidelike gedeeltes van die Suider-Afrikaanse subkontinent in te sluit. Geen ander metode as die Francou en Rodier empiriese vloed benadering is in die literatuur gevind wat as geskik aanvaar kan word vir die doel van hierdie studie nie. Daarom is die Francou en Rodier empiriese benadering, soos toegepas deur Kovacs in 1988, weer in hierdie studie toegepas en gebruik om die SMV metode vir Lesotho op te dateer. Maksimum aangetekende vloedpieke is verkry vanuit jaarlikse maksimum tyd-reekse en ʼn opgedateerde katalogus van vloedpieke vir 29 opvanggebiede saamgestel vir Lesotho. Die maksimum aangetekende vloedpieke is grafies aangetoon op logaritmiese skaal teenoor hul opvanggebiede. Daar is 3 groot rivierstelsels wat Lesotho in hidrologiese homogene gebiede verdeel. Boonste limiet kurwes is opgestel om die boonste grens van die gestipte punte vir hierdie 3 gebiede aan te toon. Hierdie krommes verteenwoordig die maksimum vloedpieke wat redelikerwys verwag kan word om binne die onderskeie rivierstelsels in Lesotho voor te kan kom.