Ohio River Forecasting Center (OHRFC) Big Sandy and Lower Monongahela Calibrations

As part of the National Weather Service (NWS) implementation of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) program, a significant amount of data analysis and model calibration work has occurred at several of the NWS River Forecast Centers. RTi worked in cooperation with the Ohio River Forecast Center (OHRFC) to improve the operational forecasting capabilities for the region in the Big Sandy and Lower Monongahela river basins by implementing more advanced hydrologic models. This effort included data analysis of historic precipitation, temperature, and streamflow data, calibration of hydrologic models for snowmelt simulation, soil moisture accounting, hydrologic routing, and reservoir operation, and comparison of forecasting capabilities using gauge– versus radar–based precipitation estimates. By working in conjunction with the OHRFC, valuable information and experience was exchanged in both directions to improve the forecasting system. The resulting system has been implemented operationally by the OHRFC for the region.

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