In recently published research, a consortium of local, state, and federal agencies including USGS and NOAA introduces the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information (AQPI) system, which aims to improve prediction and monitoring of precipitation, streamflow, and coastal flooding in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Combining real-time observations with state-of-the-art modeling, AQPI represents a significant advancement in forecasting capability. Developed as a response to the urgent need for better water-management tools in California, this experimental system will bolster decision-making processes for communities vulnerable to extreme weather events.

The Bay Area's complex landscape, nestled between coastal mountain ranges, has long posed challenges for accurate precipitation monitoring. To bridge these observational gaps, AQPI employs advanced radar network techniques that offer a comprehensive understanding of precipitation dynamics in this densely populated region.

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At its core, the AQPI prototype integrates an array of data sources, including enhanced weather radar data, surface measurements of precipitation, streamflow, and soil moisture, along with sophisticated forecast modeling systems. By integrating these elements, AQPI provides a unique situational awareness of current and future water conditions on land and in the atmosphere.

The implementation of AQPI could improve emergency preparedness and public response strategies, mitigating the risk of loss of life and property damage during severe storms. This is particularly important in regard to atmospheric rivers, which carry high moisture loads and pose significant flood risks to communities in the western United States.

Information delivered by AQPI is already being used by Bay Area water managers on a regular basis. Water agencies have developed methods to integrate AQPI data into their operations, and this process is expected to accelerate over time.  Beyond the Bay Area, the scalability of the AQPI system offers potential for its use in other urban regions across California, the country, and elsewhere worldwide.

Read the study, Advanced quantitative precipitation information: Improving monitoring and forecasts of precipitation, streamflow, and coastal flooding in the San Francisco Bay area, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.