A Model 10-Inch Rainstorm

Abstract On 16–17 August 1959, a severe rainstorm in which amounts exceeded 10 inches in 16 hours occurred in southern Illinois and bordering states. A dense raingage network was located on the major axis of this storm, and one of the heaviest rainfall centers along the axis was enclosed by the network. This network provided data on storm characteristics rarely available in such storms. Rainfall amounts in the network storm center exceeded the 100-year frequencies in this area. A study of this storm has been made utilizing the dense raingage network data, synoptic weather data, radar observations, U.S. Weather Bureau rainfall data, and 200 field survey measurements of rainfall. A statistical model of severe rainstorms is derived and information on the life cycle is presented.