Characteristics and environments of radar-derived heavy rainfall events in Australia

The Australian weather radar network has been used for the first time to compare the characteristics of rainfall events across multiple different regions. It is found that rainfall events in the tropics are more storm-like than rainfall events in southern Australia, and that the rainfall events that produce the most total rain are widespread and long-lasting, and require upwards motion occurring over a large area in the atmosphere. Meanwhile the rainfall events that produce the strongest rain rates are localised and stormy. Both high rainfall totals and high rain rates are more likely if distinct weather systems are present.