The variability of rainfall with summer thunderstorms

Summer thunderstorms can bring varying amounts of rainfall to an area. While some places can get over an inch of rain, other areas can be left dry. On July 5, two thunderstorms moved across the Sioux Falls metro area between 4 am and 10 am. The heaviest rainfall occurred from the southwest portion of the city to the east and northeast portion of the city where half to three-quarters of an inch of rain fell.

This area of heavier rainfall was only a couple of miles wide. Rainfall then rapidly decreased to the north and south of this area with little or no rain by the airport and less than a tenth of an inch of rain in the far southeast portion fo the city. The map below shows the rainfall across the city of Sioux Falls.

Rainfall the morning of July 5, 2012