Rainfall intensity is a fascinating phenomenon that can be both beautiful and devastating. In this article, we will explore the top 10 most intense rainfalls in history, the causes of such rainfall, and their effects on human lives.
1. Mawsynram, India
Mawsynram holds the record for being the wettest place on earth with an average annual rainfall of 467 inches. The high rainfall is attributed to its location near the Bay of Bengal and its proximity to mountain ranges that cause orographic lifting.
2. Cherrapunji, India
Cherrapunji used to hold the record for being the wettest place on earth before it was overtaken by Mawsynram. It has an average annual rainfall of 463 inches and experiences heavy rains during monsoon season from June to September.
3. Lloro, Colombia
Lloro holds the record for having one of the highest annual rainfalls in history with an average rainfall of 523 inches per year. The region’s location close to Pacific trade winds contributes significantly to its high level of precipitation.
4. Tutunendo, Colombia
Tutunendo experiences very high humidity levels throughout the year due to its location close to tropical forests which causes a significant amount of convectional lifting leading up to heavy downpours at least once every day.
5. Emei Shan Mountain Range, China
Emei Shan Mountain Range receives heavy rainfall due to orographic lifting caused by mountains located nearby that act as barriers causing moisture-laden air masses rising over them resulting in copious amounts of precipitation falling over adjacent areas.
6. Cropp River catchment area – New Zealand
This area experienced severe flooding after receiving approximately 315 mm (12 inches) within six hours; this led up into disastrous flash floods leaving several people dead while damaging infrastructure worth millions
7.Sao Paulo Brazil
Sao Paulo received about 10 inches of rain in just three hours, and this caused flash flooding leading to the death of several people while causing massive property damages.
8. Hurricane Harvey – Houston Texas
Hurricane Harvey led to catastrophic flooding over several areas in Houston after receiving more than 51 inches of rainfall within five days; the hurricane was responsible for at least 107 fatalities and caused a loss worth $125 billion
9. Cyclone Idai- Zimbabwe
Cyclone Idai made landfall over Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi causing severe rains leading up to floods that killed at least 600 people while displacing millions.
10. Typhoon Haiyan – Philippines
Typhoon Haiyan is one of the deadliest typhoons ever recorded with winds reaching speeds of up to 315 km/hr (195 mph). It also brought about heavy rainfall with most areas receiving between six and ten inches of rain per hour, leading up to widespread flooding that claimed more than 6,000 lives.
In conclusion, intense rainfall has been known to cause significant damage such as landslides, floods resulting in loss of life and property worth millions or even billions. Understanding these phenomena can help us prepare better for natural disasters associated with high precipitation levels.