A Synoptic Evaluation of Frequencies and Intensities of Extreme Three-and 24-Hour Rainfall in Louisiana∗

∗The authors would like to thank Chi Nguyen, Youngeun Choi, and Liyun Ye for technical assistance and Robert A. Muller, John M. Grymes, III, James F. Cruise, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. This research was partially funded by N.O.A.A. grant No. NA908A-D-CP775.

This research classifies extreme three-hour and 24-hour rainfall events in Louisiana by synoptic weather types (Frontal, Gulf Tropical Disturbance, and Air Mass). These classes were used to analyze differences in frequencies and intensities of extreme rainfall. Significant differences were found in the storm frequencies by weather type. However, no significant differences were detected in rainfall intensities between weather types during either duration. These findings have a bearing on statistical procedures associated with estimating storm probabilities in the region.

Key Words:

• heavy rainfall
• synoptic climatology
• mixed distributions
• Louisiana

Notes

∗The authors would like to thank Chi Nguyen, Youngeun Choi, and Liyun Ye for technical assistance and Robert A. Muller, John M. Grymes, III, James F. Cruise, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. This research was partially funded by N.O.A.A. grant No. NA908A-D-CP775.