So How Much is an Inch of Rain?

September 3, 2020 // Article by: Sherilyn Patrick

You've got a big project on the line. The weather forecast states that after a day's worth of heavy showers, rain amounts will total around an inch when all is said and done. The meteorologist seems to be stressing that this inch of rain will not bode well for outdoor work. But an inch of rain doesn't sound that bad. Why all the fuss? Rainfall is measured by the depth of water within a rain gauge, giving it merely a one-dimensional aspect. However, we live in a 3-dimensional world, meaning there's an associated volume for that water. Thus, the larger the area, the more gallons of water an inch of rain will provide. The infographic below helps put this concept into perspective:

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