The National Weather Service's Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) Collaborative Forecast Process (CFP) Demonstration: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

On August 1, 2022, the NWS began a formal Collaborative Forecast Process (CFP) demonstration for the Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF) produced by the agency. The effort involved all offices in the conterminous United States that produce QPF forecasts, from national to local levels, on a routine basis using a common process. The goal of the demonstration was to efficiently create a singular QPF forecast that serves as the basis for all agency needs and maximizes impact decision support services to NWS core partners, while meeting goals for timeliness and accuracy. The demonstration officially ended on June 1, 2023.

The presentation will focus on the best practices that were discovered during the demonstration, as well as the lessons learned. A significant pivot part way through the demonstration, which was based on feedback received from the participants, will be described. Technical and cultural hurdles will be examined. Finally, potential paths forward for future testbeds will be presented.