Rainwater runoff has been identified as a significant source of contaminants having tremendous impact on the receiving aquatic environment. In the present study, trace element transport by the surface runoff in the predominantly urban catchment of Guwahati city, India was monitored with a view to determine the chemical denudation rates of the land surface. A number of trace metals, namely Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured in the runoff after 70 major rain events within the city. Cadmium was found to be the least abundant metal and Iron was the most abundant metal in the runoff. The results are interpreted on the basis of temporal and spatial variations in their concentrations. These variations are quite large in some of the events and reflect changes in the local environmental setting, differences in water utilization, variations in runoff volume, gradient and quality.