How much rainfall can be expected from an averaged hurricane?

Answer 1

In 1981, William Gray, the nation's leading hurricane forecaster, published a paper stating that an average hurricane produces a little over half an inch of rain a day within a circular area 825 miles across. If you convert this to a volume of rain, you get about 1.3 x 1015 cubic inches a day. That's enough rain to fill over 22 million Olympic-sized Swimming Pools!

That, of course, is an average. Hurricanes do not all produce the same amounts of rain, nor does it fall uniformly over the area of the cyclone. Furthermore, the effects of a lesser amount of rain may be exaggerated by topography and runoff. In this, as in most things to do with hurricanes, one must be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best.

Answer 2

On average, a hurricane can produce between 6 to 12 inches of rainfall, with some areas experiencing even higher amounts. The amount of rainfall can vary depending on the size and intensity of the hurricane, as well as the topography of the affected area. Flooding from heavy rainfall is a major concern during hurricanes.

Answer 3

The amounts of rainfall varied as Katrina traveled across different states. Katrina dumped five inches of rain across a large area of southern Florida with as much as 15 inches in some locations. The storm dropped eight to ten inches of rain along it's track in eastern Louisiana with some areas receiving more than ten inches, four to seven inches in much of eastern Mississippi, middle Tennessee and western Kentucky with isolated areas exceeding ten inches, two to four inches across wide areas of southern Iowa, most of Ohio, northern Pennsylvania, and western New York with some areas receiving more than four inches, and one to two inches in upper New England, with some parts receiving more than two inches.

Answer 4

Around about 9 million tonnes of water fell per second

Answer 5

During Hurricane Ike in 2008, up to 18 inches of rain fell in some areas. The storm destroyed parts of Cuba, as well as parts of the United States, mainly in Texas.

Answer 6

It is estimated that over 10 inches fell in some parts of Hurricane Katrina. There were also areas that only received 8 inches.

Answer 7

The worst rainfall during Hurricane Katrina was about three inches per hours. The average total rainfall was about 12 to 20 inches.

Answer 8

The amount of rain that fell during Hurricane Katrina varied from state to state. Rainfall exceeded 14 inches in the state of Florida.

Answer 9

An estimated 80 percent of New Orleans was under water, up to 20 feet deep in places.

Answer 10

A lot