Analyses of 1-min Rain Rates Extracted from Weighing Raingage Recordings

Abstract

A method for extracting 1-min rain rates from original weighing raingage recordings is described. The method allows the retrieval of rates for long periods at approximately 300 United States weather stations. The process combines magnification of original chart records with modern digitizing and filtering techniques to obtain the 1-min data that are ordinarily unreadable. Analyses are presented of the frequency and duration of 1-min rates for these seven locations and an eighth location, for which data were collected using a high speed recorder.