View report page

69
[copy].
Royal Observatory, Greenwich,
London, S.E.,
Sir,— September 12, 1895.
Referring to your letter of Sept. 4, I enclose a statement of the
greatest rainfall in 15 minutes and in one hour respectively on 1895,
July 21, 24, 28, and Aug. 3 and 10, as asked for by you, and also
particulars of heavy rainfalls 1861-1895, including the storm of 1895,
Sept. 7. All of these refer to Greenwich, and may not apply strictly
to Poplar. You will see from these that 0.5 in. in an hour is quite
an insufficient storm allowance, 0.52 in. having fallen in about eight
minutes, and 0.93 in. in 30 minutes.
Rainfalls of 3.58 in. in 10 hours, and of 2.5 in. in 13 hours, caused
the greatest floods in this district in the period in question, from
which it would seem that the total amount is an important factor as
well as the rate per hour.
I am, Sir,
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) W. H. M. Christie.
F. VV. Alexander, Esq.,
Medical Officer of Health.

1895, Sept. 12.
W H. M. CHRISTIE