Friday, September 26, 2014

Clayton records 30mm difference to BOM 200 metres away | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin

Ian Clayton recorded 115mm of rain in West Rockhampton. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning Bulletin
Ian Clayton recorded 115mm of rain in West Rockhampton. Photo: Chris Ison / The Morning BulletinChris Ison
IAN Clayton lives only 200 metres or so from where the Bureau of Meteorology collects their official rainfall data for Rockhampton.
You'd think their rain gauges would be recording similar amounts, but according to Mr Clayton they always seem to be different.
According to BOM, Rockhampton has had about 79mm of rain over the past few days, but Mr Clayton recorded 115mm and 116mm in his rain gauges when he checked on Tuesday.
He said the gauge was empty before the heavy rain started on Sunday.
Mr Clayton has lived at his address since 1952.
"Actually what you see reported and what we get, it's always different," he said. "This time it's about 30mm out, which we had on Sunday afternoon. It just seems funny, we're only 200 yards off the airport."
Mr Clayton said his neighbour also recorded 115mm.
Bureau of Meteorology technical officer at Rockhampton, Brendan Bradford, said rainfall was extremely variable.
"Across the region we had high falls of up to 74mm in 24 hours, but some places recorded eight (millimetres).
"People do get concerned about what they've recorded when it's different (to our official total) … they're welcome to keep their own records."
Mr Bradford also said people can compare their totals against online BOM records dating as far back as 1939.

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