【A Thought of Ecstasy】

Source：Inspiration Information Network Editor：Science Time：2025-06-26 15:11:28

A devastating flash flood event in mid-April caused widespread damage on A Thought of Ecstasythe lush Hawaiian island of Kauai. Now comes word that during the 24-hour period between April 14 and 15, a staggering 49.69 inches of rain fell at a rain gauge about 1 mile west of Hanalei.

If this amount is verified by the National Climatic Extremes Committee, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and serves as a sort of Guinness Book of World Records for weather and climate, it would be the heaviest 24-hour rainfall total ever recorded in the U.S.

SEE ALSO: The National Weather Service had to add a new color to its maps to show Harvey's rainfall

The current record is 43 inches, set on July 25-26, 1979, in Alvin, Texas. It would also crush the state record of 38 inches, which was also set in Kauai, back in 1956.

The committee members will review the rain gage to determine if it was functioning properly at the time of the rainstorm. This particular gage is operated by a nonprofit organization called the WAIPA Foundation. It's possible that the committee will conclude that the amount of rain was actually less than recorded, or conversely, that it underestimated the rainfall total.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

It's not surprising that a national rainfall record would come from Kauai, since it's rugged terrain contains some of the wettest landscapes on Earth. Mt. Waialeale, for example, receives about 460 inches of rain per year, and is the wettest place in the country.

The April rains, though, were unusually intense and widespread, causing flash flooding throughout the island and forcing thousands to evacuate. Homes, businesses, and infrastructure was damaged or destroyed in a disaster that few in the continental U.S. heard of.

This rainstorm is in keeping with climate change trends, as global warming is already making extreme precipitation events both more frequent and intense.

No studies have yet been done on this particular event to see how climate change affected it, but other research has shown that global warming has made heavy rainfall events, including Hurricane Harvey, which was the most extreme rainstorm on record in the U.S., much more likely.

Featured Video For You

Previous：Best grocery deal: Spend $20 and get $5 off at Amazon

Next：Weather app glitch makes it look like hell is basically freezing over

【A Thought of Ecstasy】

Related Articles

Related Recommendations

Categories

Latest Articles

Popular Articles

Hot Recommendations

Featured Column

Quick Links

Quick Links