NZ extremes as shown on NIWA's website

[RWood]

There are several numbers there that I haven't seen before (as compared with say the list that is given at MetService's site, and on their calendars):

1 hour rainfall: 134, Cropp at Waterfall (Hokitika Catchment) From 2300 hours on 8 January 2004

12 hour rainfall: 566, Hokitika at Prices Flat From 2311 hours on 11 May 1978

24 hour rainfall: 758, Cropp at Waterfall (Hokitika Catchment) From 0620 hours on 27 December 1989 (***)

365 day rainfall: 18,405 Cropp at Waterfall (Hokitika Catchment) From 0348 hours on 30 October 1997

{I have seen this previously quoted as 18,442 for "1 year" - a correction?}

(***) I can vouch for the wetness of that day on the Coast - was trying to drive out southwards through Haast Pass - just made it minutes v=before the road closed.

[Michael]

Can remember the 27 dec 1989 was a disturbed westerly flow across N.Z It was windy/cold for the time of the year.

[RWood]

Can remember the 27 dec 1989 was a disturbed westerly flow across N.Z It was windy/cold for the time of the year.

The westerlies persisted for a while into Jan 1990, but it became much drier - esp. in the east - and warmer.

[Richard]

1 hour rainfall: 134, Cropp at Waterfall (Hokitika Catchment) From 2300 hours on 8 January 2004


That's amazing amountof rain,i couldn't imagine what that would be like to experience such a high rate,but even then its still well short of the world record.

[Andy]

1 hour rainfall: 134, Cropp at Waterfall (Hokitika Catchment) From 2300 hours on 8 January 2004


That's amazing of rain,i couldn't imagine what that would be like to experienceuch a high rate,but even then its still well short of the world record

What is the record, any one know?
Ta

[Michael]

Isnt the northshore Hawaii????

[Nev]

Shangdi in China recorded 401mm in 60 minutes on July 3rd, 1975, according to the BoM's list of the 'WMO's Record Rainfalls'.

[Simon Culling]

Here in the UK, the Met Office site gives the following figures:

1 hour: 92mm at Maidenhead (Berkshire) on 12th July 1901

24 hours (rainfall day 09:00-09:00): 279mm at Martinstown (Dorset) on 18th July 1955

24 hour period from 00:00 to 23:59 on 19th November 2009, 316.4mm fell at Seathwaite (Cumbria)

Not sure about the wettest place in the UK on an annual basis, but weather observations were carried out on the summit of Ben Nevis (in the Scottish Western Highlands) between 1883-1904 and the average annual rainfall was 4350mm or 171". Don't think that will be beaten.

[RWood]

The 134mm would be hard to beat outside 30deg latitudes I think - don't have any info. on that.

[spwill]

Intense rainfall is perhaps more significant when it falls on a populated area, one hr falls of 109.4mm at Leigh and 107mm at Whenuapai.