Using hydrometric data from an upland river in North Wales, a relationship between rate of river flow and water stored within the catchment area (catchment storage) is assumed to exist, and is evaluated from an analysis of winter recession curves. This storage/river flow relationship, when combined with water balance equations, produces a set of equations which may be used for "routing" input of rainfall through a storage with defined outflow characteristics, providing a straightforward method of flood prediction and analysis from rainfall data. Recorded and predicted flood hydrographs are compared, and the effectiveness and limitations of the method are considered. The development of a complete mathematical model, embodying the storage/river flow relationship, and suitable for generation of continuous run-off records from rainfall and evaporation data, is also considered.