The investigation was made to study the formation and development of a storm which occurred in Victoria on 20th-21st October, 1953 causing flooding of streams in the East Central and West Gippsland districts. An attempt is made, to assess the theoretical maximum rainfall intensities possible from this storm using methods developed by the Hydrometeorological Section of the U.S. Weather Bureau. From M.S.L. synoptic charts prepared by the Analysis, Section of the Central Weather Bureau, Melbourne, the development of the storm was studied. The air mass surface dew point in the storm area was determined from a consideration of surface observations and trajectories of the air involved in the rain, process, and from this figure a theoretical value of maximum precipitable water content of the air mass was derived using methods developed by American Investigators. Available radiosonde data was used to obtain an approximate value of water, content of the, air mass and comparison was made between this and the theoretical value obtained. From available pluviometer records, the maximum rainfall intensity experienced at two separate stations was derived and the vertical wind velocities necessary to give the observed maximum rainfall intensities from air masses having, (i) the actual and (ii) the theoretical precipitable water contents and distributions were determined.
A.F. Rainbird (Tue,) studied this question.