Adjustment of Solid Precipitation during the Filomena Extreme Snowfall Event in Spain: From Observations to “True Precipitation”

Abstract On January 2021, the heaviest snowfall in five decades hit central Spain, especially affecting Madrid. The city’s Barajas International Airport closed, along with a number of roads, and all trains to from Madrid were cancelled. This storm was named Filomena by Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET), produced continuous Spain on 7–10 January. observed snow depth around 50 cm 24 h Madrid, even higher other areas Spain. However, measured accumulation national precipitation gauges not consistent accumulated ground modeled weather forecast. undercatch solid primary reason for this inconsistency. quantified using transfer functions developed World Organization (WMO) Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment (SPICE). Results show that an underestimation 20%–30% large observed, some experiencing larger differences. Without adjustments, it impossible accurately validate model adjusted also more realistically distributed, damage occurred. same methods can be applied events occurring anywhere world, different and/or models. example type extreme modelers, forecasters, climatologists should aware avoid misinterpreting differences between precipitation, nowcasting.