Analysis of Severe Rainstorm Characteristics of the Godavari Basin in Peninsular India

Abstract The analysis of rainstorms is of prime importance for the planning and design of water resources of any region. In the absence of actual records of streamflow data, analysis of rainstorms is useful for assessing flood potentialities as well as the runoff of river catchments. This study provides pertinent information on the spatial distribution characteristics of severe rainstorm events that occurred over the Godavari and its subbasins on the basis of 110 yr (1891–2000) of available rainfall data. The analysis showed that the August 1986 rainstorm had its areal extension over more than a 150 000 km2 area. It is also seen that the August 1913 rainstorm was the most efficient rainstorm over the basin. The rain depth data of severe rainstorms given in this paper can provide a reliable set of information to assess water resource planning on a probability basis. The relationship between the point to areal rainfall and area of the rainstorms from 1- to 3-day durations is also determined.