Why didn't we get runoff ?

The recent high rainfalls of between 50 and 75mm locally didn't produce much runoff-why ? Mainly because the falls were generally of quite low intensity- even statisically for this time of year . Dry soils too of course , but in summer some soils will run . High runoff periods for most slopes are rare ( occuring only about 3 times in an average year on wet loam to clays soils in areas between 700- 1000mm total per year. .
However ,you can get a lot higher runoff and erosion with summer rain because the intensities are usually higher when soils are drier , but effect is over small areas. The worst kind around here for big areas are associated with easterlies - Either way , care should be taken at this time of year both to avoid cultivating steep slopes intensively or to align tracks with more care/ crossings than often seems necesary . for some ideas click here