The Greatest Rainfall in Twenty-four Hours

Abstract

IN NATURE, May 4, Mr. Clement Wragge, of Brisbane, confidently asserts that. Queensland has beaten the world's record in the extraordinary amount recorded on February 3, viz., 35˙7 inches. I am sorry to have to take away such an unenviable palm from Queensland, by recalling a fact well known to every Indian meteorologist that the highest record extant belongs to Chirapunji, in the Khasia hills, where on June 14, 1876, 40˙8 inches were recorded in the twenty-four hours. Not only so, but on the 12th 30 inches fell, and in the four days, from the 12th to the 15th inclusive, as much as 102 inches. Of course the effects were not so disastrous in this case, as indeed such a state of things is little removed from the normal at Chira in the early part of June, but I have a very clear recollection of it as I was at Chirapunji on the 12th and 13th, and not far from it on the memorable 14th.