Towards improved QPE quality characterization methods in the UK and in OPERA

For radar QPE to be useful in applications such as urban drainage modelling or assimilation into numerical models it is essential to have a good knowledge of the quality of the estimates which can be adaptable to changes over short time scales. At the UK Met Office, an ensemble-based method for assessing the quality of radar QPE is being developed, with funding from the Environment Agency of England and Wales. It is hoped that this approach will allow flood forecasters to give more informed judgements in severe weather situations.

We also report on a related study to develop a dynamic quality index scheme which is intended to be a standard method for use throughout the European OPERA community. The hope is that the scheme will be flexible and simple enough to allow varying levels of information to be included, dependent on the available information. This work is funded by EUMETNET, of which the OPERA programme is part.