Rainfall Curves: Build from I-D-F Data

Intensity-Duration-Frequency (I-D-F) data can be used to build center peaking rainfall curves for any duration contained within that I-D-F curve.

The total rainfall depth is computed by multiplying the intensity corresponding to the desired storm duration and the duration. For example, the total depth for a 5 hour storm whose intensity (found from the I-D-F curve) is 0.469 in./hr. is 2.345 in. This total depth is then temporally distributed throughout the duration of the storm according to a center peaking pattern. The center peaking storm pattern dictates that the most intense portion of the storm is during the middle of the storm, and that the beginning and end of the storm are less intense.