Accurate quantitative rainfall prediction at high temporal and spatial resolution is vital for flood management and operations at Singapore’s National Water Agency PUB.

Yet, it is a challenge to obtain such accurate rainfall data and forecasts in Singapore, where convective storms are common and rainfall is typically very local.

H2i has been working on a project to develop a high-resolution rainfall detection and forecast system based on state-of-art X-band weather radar technology.

X-band weather radars are compact, cost effective and energy efficient. They can also provide near real-time and high-resolution rainfall data.

This project’s nowcasting model has been providing rainfall data to PUB’s system with promising results. It is in the process of being improved further and evaluated based on a sufficient number of rain events to ensure the required accuracy is achieved.

Working with weather radar specialists from the radar supplier Furuno, H2i has been developing this system for the PUB since June 2016. It is expected to be completed by December 2018.

This project will create opportunities for the development of a commercial X-band radar rainfall monitoring and nowcasting system that could apply to flood management in other cities in Asia.