Using the highest quality radar data available, the latest in quality control and radar mosaic software from government labs and an advanced radar prediction algorithm from McGill University (MAPLE), WDT provides state-of-the-art forecasts of rain and snow up to 4 hours in advance.

• Level-II radar based mosaics as input.
• Uses McGill University MAPLE package.
• Provides reflectivity forecasts out to 6 hours every 15 minutes and 90 minute forecasts every 5 minutes.
• Integrates WRF numerical model forecasts for precipitation typing to delineate areas of rain, snow and mixed precipitation.
• Uses variable Z-R and Z-S relationships to calculate Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF) out to 4 hours.
• Using USPLN lightning data, provides 90 minute lighting threat forecasts every 5 minutes.
  

Comparison with actual radar: Example of Storm PredictorTM output from a convective complex in the Central United States. Left panel is actual data, right panel is 2 hr forecasted radar image valid at the time of the left panel.

Products

• Four hour forecasts of rain/snow/mixed precipitation at 1 km resolution for the continental US. Updated every 15 minutes and provided in NetCDF datafile format.
• QPF of predicted rain, snow, freezing rain out to four hours for the continental US.
• Storm PredictorTM output is available as part of WDT’s real-time display systems.
• Storm PredictorTM output is used to provide alerting and ETA/ETD of heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning.