Dual-pol radar measurements of Hurricane Irma and comparison of radar QPE to rain gauge data

Hurricane Irma, landed Florida on September 9
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, 2017, was the most intense Atlantic hurricane striking the United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The evolution of Irma was well observed on September 9
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-11
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by an S-band EEC dual-pol radar deployed in Miami, FL. The radar applied a high temporal and spatial resolution (0.5 minute, 62.5~125m range, <;1° azimuth) for the observation so that the details of storm feature were well presented. The radar quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) products have been compared with the rainfall data measured by the national rain-gauge network. Results show a good agreement, implying the potential of dual-pol radar used for QPE. Exceptions and discrepancies are also analyzed and discussed in this study.