Comparing the operational capabilities of the site specific hydrologic predictor (SSHP) and a fully distributed hydrological model (Mike SHE) using WSR-88 radar rainfall inputs over a small basin in Florida

The Black Creek basin in North Florida has been the site of flash flooding during the 1990's. NEXRAD-derived rainfall rates are applied to the Systeme Hydrologique Europeen distributed hydrological model (MIKE-SHE) and to the Site Specific Hydrologic Predictor (SSHP) to compare the relative operational and diagnostic advantages of using either model in forecasting of flash flood events. The results focus on inter-model comparisons between the Site Specific Hydrologic Predictor (SSHP) program using the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center - Antecedent Precipitation Indices (MKC-API) rainfall-runoff model, and the Systeme Hydrologique Europeen (MIKE-SHE) distributed model. Both sets of calculations are compared to observations of discharge at two USGS gauging stations in the basin for January and July 1998. Discussion of the differences in results also includes an analysis of the effect of using NEXRAD rain rates and Thiessen inputs over such a small (1253 km2) basin on short time scales.