Quantitative Precipitation Estimate (QPE) Data

General Information

The precipitation data are quality-controlled, multi-sensor (radar and rain gauge) precipitation estimates obtained from National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Centers (RFCs) and mosaicked by National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The original data from NCEP is in GRIB (GRIdded Binary or General Regularly-distributed Information in Binary form) format (files pre-March 22nd, 2017 are in XMRG format) and projected in the Hydrologic Rainfall Analysis Project (HRAP) grid coordinate system, a polar stereographic projection true at 60°N / 105°W.

To automate or download multiple datasets, you can download a program called wget. Due to increased web security, the anonymous FTP server is no longer available.

If you have any questions, please contact nwps.webmaster@noaa.gov

Hourly Data

Daily Data

• Stage IV Daily QPE Precipitation Source Data (2016-present)
  • Daily grib2 files for CONUS, Alaska or Puerto Rico
  • Valid 12z-12z, updated by 18Z each day
  • Link to customize by date: https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/stageIV/ YYYY/MM/ DD/ncep_stage_iv_source_files_YYYYMMDD.tar
    • Substitute
      • YYYY: Year (2016-present CONUS, 3/2017-Present Alaska, 4/2017-present Puerto Rico)
      • MM: Month (00-12)
      • DD: Day (01-31)
    • Example: February 2, 2024
      • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/stageIV/2024/02/02/ncep_stage_iv_source_files_20240202.tar


• NCEP Stage IV Daily Accumulations (06/28/2016 - present)
  • These files are available daily as a NetCDF or a GeoTIFF for CONUS, Alaska or Puerto Rico in the following directory:
    • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/stageIV/
    • The directories contain the following files with the link customized by date:
      • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/ YYYY/MM/DD/nws_precip_[XXXXX]_YYYYMMDD_conus.[nc,tif]
        • NetCDF and GeoTIFF files for CONUS
      • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/ YYYY/MM/DD/nws_precip_[XXXXX]_YYYYMMDD_ak.[nc,tif]
        • NetCDF and GeoTIFF files for Alaska
      • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/ YYYY/MM/DD/nws_precip_[XXXXX]_YYYYMMDD_pr.[nc,tif]
        • NetCDF and GeoTIFF files for Puerto Rico
      • [XXXXX]
        • Time periods may include last 1-day, last 2-days, last 3-days, last 4-days, last 5-days, last 6-days, last 7-days, last 10-days, last 14-days, last 30-days, last 60-days, last 90-days, last 120-days, last 180-days, last 365-days, month-to-date, year to-date, and water year to-date
        • Month-to-date products are always available on the 1st of every month.
        • Water year products are always available on 10/1. Note the water year precipitation season runs from 10/1-9/30.
      • Substitute:
        • YYYY: Year (6/29/2016-present)
        • MM: Month (00-12)
        • DD: Day (01-31)
        • nc: NetCDF File format
        • tif: GeoTIFF File format

• NCEP Stage III Daily Accumulations (1/1/2005 - 6/27/2017)
  • These files are available in the following directory with the link customized by date:
    • https://water.noaa.gov/resources/downloads/precip/stageIII/ YYYY/MM/DD/
    • The directories may contain the following files:
      • conus_precip-composite_hi_res_YYYMMDD.tar.gz
        • gzip compressed file containing a high resolution png image
      • nws_precip_1day_YYYMMDD.tif
        • GeoTIFF image
      • nws_precip_1day_observed_shape_YYYMMDD.tar.gz
        • shapefile for the day
      • nws_precip_YYYMMDD_nc.tar.gz
        • NetCDF files for CONUS, Alaska and Puerto Rico
        • These files may be included together or available individually
      • Month-to-date products are always available on the 1st of every month.
      • Water year products are always available on 10/1. Note the water year precipitation season runs from 10/1-9/30.
      • Substitute:
        • YYYY: Year (1/01/2005-6/27/2017)
        • MM: Month (00-12)
        • DD: Day (01-31)

Metadata

The following links provide more information about the observed precipitation, normal precipitation, and derived precipitation products:

• Observed precipitation
• Normal precipitation
• Departure from normal precipitation
• Percent of normal precipitation

Precipitation Data Information

For information on precipitation data and NWPS services please see the NWPS Products and Users Guide. Section 4 describes the precipitation data file formats. Appendix A provides background information on the precipitation analysis. Appendix B describes the QPE data formats. Appendix C covers the use of the new precipitation file formats in comment GIS software.