Daily precipitation maxima in Catalonia (north‐east Spain): Expected values and their spatial distribution

Abstract

Abstract The climatic diversity of Catalonia (north‐east Spain) is studied from the viewpoint of precipitation maxima. The spatial distribution of expected daily precipitation maxima is investigated for several return periods. The process is applied to the four traditional seasons and for the whole year by assuming the classical Gumbel theory of extremes (Gumbel I distribution), which is confirmed by the reasonable fit between predicted and empirical extremes. The analysis points towards a combination of several factors, such as the complex orography, the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea, the significant convective activity, and the dominant surface circulation, controlling the extreme daily amount distribution in Catalonia.