ABSTRACTThe spatial correlation analysis of daily rainfall data for a 29 month period in the northern coastal area of Tanzania has revealed a definite trend of higher rainfall correlations parallel to the coastline than is apparent normal to it. The general distance-decay rate of correlation coefficients for daily rainfall approximates a semi-logarithmic form, but is different in the longshore and cross-shore directions. At the very small scale, using data from a dense network of rain-gauges in Dar es Salaam, the general trend is reversed, suggesting that cellular development of intense rainfall occurs within the general trend parallel to the coast. As a result higher correlation coefficients persist for a greater distance normal to the coast at this scale. The development of rainstorm activity along sea- and land-breeze fronts is suggested as a major contributing factor to the rainfall of the area.