The 13 Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Centers (RFC) produce Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPE) for their individual RFC areas. The RFCs produce the data using a multi-sensor approach utilizing NWS 88D radar estimates of precipitation, automated and manual precipitation gauges and satellite estimates of precipitation. These QPEs are used as input into their hydrologic models to produce NWS river forecasts and guidance products. The QPEs from each RFC are combined into a single mosaic to create a QPE product that covers the lower 48 states, Alaska and Puerto Rico. These QPE 's measuring units are in inches. The data are on an approximate 4km x 4km grid cell scale.

The individual hourly data products (labeled Since 12Z Observed and those labeled Last X hours) contain data for the labeled time frame. These products are updated every hour to incorporate the most recent data.

The individual daily data products (Today's Analysis Observed, those labeled Last X Days Observed, and those labeled X To Date Observed.) represent a 24 hour total ending at 12UTC on the indicated date. These 24-hour data are then summed together to produce multi-day precipitation totals. Normal precipitation data are also produced for the Today's Analysis Observed and multi-day summations of 7 days or greater using data from the PRISM Climate Group. Percent of normal and departure from normal comparisons are also available by comparing the QPE data with the PRISM normal data. The daily data may be updated several times between 12UTC and 21UTC each day as updated data becomes available.

Link to graphical web page: https://water.weather.gov/precip/index.php

Link to data download (Advanced Hydrologic Predictive Services (AHPS) Precipitation Downloads): https://water.weather.gov/precip/download.php

Links to metadata:

Observed

Normal

Departure from Normal

Percent of Normal Precipitation

Questions/Concerns about the service, please contact the DISS GIS team

Time Information:

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