Statistical Analysis of Rainfall Pattern in Dire Dawa Region, Ethiopia

Rainfall is the most critical and key variable both in atmospheric and hydrological cycle. Its patterns usually have spatial and temporal variability. These variabilities affect agricultural production, food security, water supply, transportation, environment and urban planning, thus, the entire economy of a country, and the existence of its people. Rainfall variability is assumed to be the main cause for the frequently occurring climate extreme events such as drought and flood. It is already imposing a significant challenge so far worldwide. Awareness about the characteristics of the rainfall over an area such as the source, quantity, variability, distribution and the frequency of rainfall is essential for efficient control and management of water resources, the implication in utilization and associated problems .Thus, it is important to obtain accurate rainfall prediction at various geographic levels of the area and work towards it in order to help policy makers improve their decisions by taking into consideration the available and future water resources.