Possible Urban Effects on Maximum Daily Rainfall at Paris, St. Louis and Chicago

Abstract

The seasonal maximum daily rainfall values for the 1871–1970 period at these three large cities in different climates were studied to discern trends. Upward trends of 19–38% were found in the warm season values at all cities, but no significant up or down trends were found in the cold season values. The upward trends in the warm season appear to reflect both natural climatic changes and inadvertent urban effects on local convective precipitation.