Quantitative precipitation forecast using radar echo extrapolation

The radar extrapolation method called COTREC ("Continuity of TREC vectors", where TREC stands for "Tracking Radar Echoes by Correlation") was originally developed in the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute for qualitative precipitation and severe storm nowcasting. New demands for better precipitation forecasts from the hydrological modeling community have led us to test quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPF) based on the COTREC method. Several case studies of flood events showed the potential benefit of COTREC-based QPF for hydrological modeling. Case study results were subsequently confirmed by statistical evaluation of the QPFs and a comparison with precipitation forecasts from the ALADIN numerical weather prediction model. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.