Heavy rain storms can cause significant damage and lead to fatalities. Just in November, at least 21 people reportedly died in the Dominican Republic following heavy rain over the weekend of Nov. 18. That weekend, torrential rains in Brazil caused flooding and landslides that left at least six dead. Two weeks prior, in Tuscany, Storm Ciaran caused floods that ravaged central Italy, leaving six dead. (Also see: These 20 islands will disappear in your lifetime.)
To identify the heaviest rain storms ever recorded in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center World Record Precipitation Measurements, published by the National Weather Service. Data was last updated by the NWS on Nov. 10, 2021. Some data are estimates. We ordered these rain storms by duration. That is, the record rainfall for cloudbursts lasting no more than a few minutes up to rainfalls lasting two years.
The heavy rainfalls were often recorded during the same precipitation event. For example, India holds the record for several durations, mostly recorded during two events — one in 1977 and one in 1860-1861. France, too, holds several records set during one main event in 2007. The sources of China’s rainfall records also stem from several storms, while the U.S. holds one of the most significant cloudburst records, set in 1956. (Here are 20 states with the biggest risk of flooding.)
In all, the 30 record rainfalls on the list have occurred in just nine countries, led by India and China, including Inner Mongolia. Five of the heaviest rainfalls have been recorded in the United States, dating from 1935, when Woodward Ranch, Texas, received 22 inches of rain in less than three hours.
Here are the heaviest rain storms ever recorded.
30. Unionville, Maryland, USA
- Amount: 1.2 inches
- Duration: 1 minutes, July 4, 1956
29. Barot, Guadeloupe, West Indies
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 1.5 inches
- Duration: 1 minutes, Nov 26, 1970
28. Porto Bello, Panama
Source: Olena Bolotova / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 2.5 inches
- Duration: 5 minutes, Nov 29, 1911
27. Fussen, Bavaria, Germany
Source: AaronChoi / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 5 inches
- Duration: 8 minutes, May 25, 1920
26. Plumb Point, Jamaica
- Amount: 7.8 inches
- Duration: 15 minutes, May 12, 1916
25. Curtea de Arges, Romania
Source: Wirestock / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 8.1 inches
- Duration: 20 minutes, July 7, 1889
24. Sikeshugou, Hebei, China
Source: Kai Zhao / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 11 inches
- Duration: 30 minutes, July 3, 1974
23. Kilauea Plantation, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 12 inches
- Duration: 60 minutes, Jan 24, 1956
22. Holt, Missouri, USA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 12 inches
- Duration: 42 minutes, June 22, 1947
21. Smethport, Pennsylvania, USA
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 1 feet 3 inches
- Duration: 60 minutes, July 18, 1942
20. Shangdi, Inner Mongolia, China
- Amount: 1 feet 3.8 inches
- Duration: 60 minutes, July 3, 1975
19. Gaoj, Gansu, China
Source: Alberto Sánchez cerrato / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 1 feet 5.3 inches
- Duration: 72 minutes, Aug 12, 1985
18. Yujiawanzi, Inner Mongolia, China
Source: Li Xiang / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 1 feet 7.3 inches
- Duration: 2 hours, July 19, 1975
17. Bainaobao, Hebei, China
Source: ABykov / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 1 feet 9.7 inches
- Duration: 2.5 hours, June 25, 1972
16. Woodward Ranch (D’Hanis 17 NNW), Texas, USA
Source: Courtesy of Valdina Ranch via Facebook
- Amount: 1 feet 10 inches
- Duration: 2.75 hours, May 31, 1935
15. Duan Jia Zhuang, Hebei, China
- Amount: 1 feet 11.6 inches
- Duration: 3 hours, June 28, 1973
14. Linzhuang, Henan, China
- Amount: 2 feet 8.7 inches
- Duration: 6 hours, Aug 7, 1975
13. Muduchaideng, Inner Mongolia, China
Source: Li Xiang / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 4 feet 7.1 inches
- Duration: 10 hours, Aug 1, 1977
12. Foc-Foc, Réunion, France
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 5 feet 11.9 inches
- Duration: 24 hours, Jan 7, 1966
11. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
Source: Monuj Sarmah / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 8 feet 2 inches
- Duration: 48 hours, June 15, 1995
10. Commerson Crater, Réunion, France
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 18 feet 1 inches
- Duration: 8 days, Feb 24, 2007
9. Commerson Crater, Réunion, France
- Amount: 18 feet 8 inches
- Duration: 10 days, Jan 18, 1980
8. Commerson Crater, Réunion, France
- Amount: 20 feet 0 inches
- Duration: 15 days, Jan 14, 1980
7. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
Source: Danielrao / iStock via Getty Images
- Amount: 30 feet 6 inches
- Duration: 1 month, July 1, 1861
6. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
- Amount: 41 feet 11 inches
- Duration: 2 months, June 1, 1861
5. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
- Amount: 53 feet 8 inches
- Duration: 3 months, May 1, 1861
4. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
- Amount: 73 feet 8 inches
- Duration: 6 months, Apr 1, 1861
3. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Amount: 75 feet 5 inches
- Duration: 11 months, Jan 1, 1861
2. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
- Amount: 86 feet 10 inches
- Duration: 12 months, Aug 1, 1860
1. Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India
- Amount: 133 feet 9 inches
- Duration: 2-year, Jan 1, 1860
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