Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3207
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3207
08 Nov 2024
 | 08 Nov 2024

Evaluation of high-intensity rainfall observations from personal weather stations in the Netherlands

Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet

Abstract. Accurate rainfall observations with a high spatial and temporal resolution are key for hydrological applications, in particular for reliable flood forecasts. However, rain gauge networks operated by regional or national environmental agencies are often sparse and weather radars tend to underestimate rainfall. As a complementary source of information, rain gauges from personal weather stations (PWSs), which have a network density 100 times higher than dedicated rain gauge networks in the Netherlands, can be used. However, PWSs are prone to additional sources of error compared to dedicated gauges, because they are generally not installed and maintained according to international guidelines. Here, we quantitatively compare rainfall estimates obtained from PWSs against rainfall recorded by automatic weather stations (AWSs) from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), over the 2018–2023 period, including a sample of 1760 individual rainfall events in the Netherlands. This sample consists of the 10 highest rainfall accumulations per season and accumulation interval (1, 3, 6 and 24 h) over a 6-year period. It was found that the average of a cluster of PWSs severely underestimate rainfall (around 36 % and 19 % for 1 h and 24 h intervals, respectively). Adjusting the data with the mean field bias correction factor of 1.24, as proposed by the PWSQC algorithm, reduces this underestimation to 21 % for 1 h intervals or almost reduces it to 0 for intervals of 3 h and longer. Largest correlation (0.83 and 0.83) and lowest coefficient of variation (0.15 and 0.18) were found during winter and autumn, respectively. We show that most PWSs are able to capture high rainfall intensities up to around 30 mm h-1, indicating that these can be utilized for applications that require rainfall data with with a spatial resolution on the order of kilometers, such as for flood forecasting in small, fast responding catchments. However, PWSs severely underestimate (on average more than 50 %) rainfall events with return periods exceeding 10 or 50 years (above approximately 30 mm h-1, which occurred in spring and summer. These underestimations are associated with large areal reduction factors, which can result in a reduction up to 17 % for 1 h events with a return period of 50 years. Additionally, this undercatch is likely due to the disproportional underestimation of tipping bucket rain gauges with increasing intensities. We recommend additional research on dynamic calibration of the tipping volumes to further improve this. Outliers during winter were likely caused by solid precipitation and can potentially be removed using a temperature module from the PWS.

Competing interests: At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. The peer-review process was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 Sep 2025
Evaluation of high-intensity rainfall observations from personal weather stations in the Netherlands
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 4585–4606, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025, 2025
Short summary
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3207', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3207', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 Jan 2025

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3207', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Jan 2025
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-3207', Anonymous Referee #2, 24 Jan 2025

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (18 Mar 2025) by Efrat Morin
AR by Nathalie Rombeek on behalf of the Authors (29 Apr 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (01 May 2025) by Efrat Morin
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (08 May 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (23 May 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (14 Jun 2025) by Efrat Morin
AR by Nathalie Rombeek on behalf of the Authors (21 Jun 2025)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

24 Sep 2025
Evaluation of high-intensity rainfall observations from personal weather stations in the Netherlands
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 29, 4585–4606, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4585-2025, 2025
Short summary
Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet

Data sets

Rainfall observations dataset from personal weather stations around automatic weather stations in the Netherlands Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet https://doi.org/10.4121/caa0a93a-effd-4574-95ec-cd874ca97c05

Nathalie Rombeek, Markus Hrachowitz, Arjan Droste, and Remko Uijlenhoet

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Short summary
Rain gauge networks from personal weather stations (PWSs) have a network density 100 times higher than dedicated rain gauge networks in the Netherlands. However, PWSs are prone to several sources of error, as they are generally not installed and maintained according to international guidelines. This study systematically quantifies and describes the uncertainties arising from PWS rainfall estimates. In particular, the focus is on the highest rainfall accumulations.
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