Radar determination of snowfall rate and accumulation ( Massachusetts).

Abstract

Data were provided by a CPS-9, 3.2 cm radar from six 1978 Massachusetts snowstorms. A best-fit power-law relationship between hourly-averaged snowfall rate (depth) and radar reflectivity factor is determined. This derived relationship is found to be Z = 5.07S1.65 with a correlation coefficient of 0.91. With this relationship hourly snowfall rates are found to be accurate to within +41 to -29% and total storm snowfall accumulation to within +44 to -31%. -from Authors