[wxqc] Rainfall Rate

[Victor Engel]

Today, my weather station had its first real storm. It measured 1.66 inches
in 40 minutes. The rainfall amounts during the storm went like this:

 17:16 0  17:21 0.16  17:26 0.43  17:30 0.79  17:35 1  17:41 1.29  17:46
1.53  17:50 1.64  17:56 1.66
where the second column shows the daily total.

Weather Display reported a rainfall rate matching these numbers. I suppose
that is accurate if the rainfall rate is meant to be an average rate over
the past hour. But obviously, if what we really want to know is how hard it
was raining while it was coming down, then the rate should be the new
accumulation divided by the elapsed time. That gives the following chart:

 17:16
 17:21 1.92  17:26 3.24  17:30 5.4  17:35 2.52  17:41 2.9  17:46 2.88  17:50
1.65  17:56 0.2
This is more impressive. It also more accurately reflects how hard it was
raining at the time. Are either or both of these calculation methods
standards? Which is preferred?

Victor

P.S. The rest of town received anywhere from 0 to 1.44 inches, with common
amounts being under 0.1 inch. I didn't realize the whole town wasn't
unundated until the storm had passed and internet access was restored so I
could check around.
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