28 



RAINFALL AND FLOODS. 



be precise as to the duration of the fall. In this case the 

 rain which is set down in the table to four days fell within 

 an interval of less than three days, namely, between 6 p.m. 

 on the 16th and 11 a.m. on the 19th, actually 65 hours. 



We have several times had heavier rains than this. I 

 submit for comparison two examples, being those which 

 occasioned the two greatest Bristol floods that have occurred 

 in modern times. 



Here is the rainfall for a portion of the month of March, 

 1889. On the 6th, 7th, and 8th of that month, 32 inches 

 fell in 48 hours. In the table the fall is distributed over 

 three days, but as it took place between the limits of 

 midnight on the 6th and midnight on the 8th, the actual 

 interval was only 48 hours. 



Here again is shown the rainfall which produced the 

 flood of October, 1882. On that occasion 3*7 inches fell in 

 60 hours, namely, from midnight of the 21st to noon of 

 the 24th. 



Hain, October, 1891. 



Oct. 



2-0. 



1-2. 



2-8 in 



65 

 hours. 



The total flood rainfall was heavier therefore, both in 

 March, 1889, and in October, 1882, than it was in last 



