ABSTRACT Understanding variations in extreme precipitation is vital for regional climate analysis and water resource management. This study examines temporal and spatial changes in daily precipitation extremes across 15 gauging stations in the Mahanadi Basin, Chhattisgarh, India, from 1971 to 2021. Using the Mann–Kendall trend test, Sen's slope estimator, and innovative trend analysis, along with time‐frequency tools like Morlet wavelet analysis, key indices of extreme rainfall were evaluated. Results show increasing trends in maximum 1‐ and 5‐day precipitation, total annual rainfall, and contributions from very and extremely wet days, with increments of 2.3, 1.13, 2.97, 1.99, and 1.79 mm/decade, respectively. Simple daily intensity increased by 0.09 mm/day/decade. Conversely, days with rainfall exceeding 20 mm and consecutive wet days decreased by 0.10 and 1.27 days/decade, whereas consecutive dry days increased by 1.56 days/decade, indicating drying trends. Significant increases in extreme rainfall were observed at Seorinarayan and Rajim, with western stations experiencing more frequent extremes. The correlation ( R = 0.9) between total precipitation and extreme indices underscores the basin's vulnerability to extremes and prolonged dry spells, emphasizing the need for adaptive water management strategies.
ahmad et al. (Fri,) studied this question.