The QPF

The main QPF website is located here:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml

What's a QPF and who cares?

QPF is one of the more common acronyms in Weather World lingo.  It means Quantitative Precipitation Forecast.  That's a real mouthful so you can easily see why Weather Wonks eagerly abbreviate the phrase.

By definition, QPF is measured over time.  The shortest QPF time period we monitor is 24 hours. The longest QPF we look at covers 7-days.  If you had to pick only ONE weather graphic to watch, it would have to be the QPF.  The QPF distills everything down to the most important and basic level.  How much precipitation is going to occur in my area over what time period?

The QPF is the first thing we look at in the morning and the last thing we see before we sleep.  Once you get attuned to the QPF, you will find yourself often glancing only at it during the day.  Looking at all the other stuff mostly comes into play when an impending storm event is nearby or underway.

It takes awhile to learn how to use the QPFs to their best advantage.  Generally, you want to start out with the full 7-day and seek to see "whazzup" for the next full week.  NOAA issues at least two QPFs per day and they extend by time intervals forward in time from the date and hour of issue.

The intervals are:

• Day 1 (24 hours)
• Day 2
• Days 1-2
• Day 3
• Days 1-3
• Days 4-5
• Days 6-7
• 5 Day
• 7 Day

We ALWAYS start with the 7 Day.  Then we begin to filter down to whichever time period "might" produce the most precipitation.  It takes a lot of clicking back and forth between graphics but it's easier than it sounds and you'll get the hang of it in no time at all!

For those wishing a deeper insight into NOAA's QPFs, see: 

https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/fam2.shtml#qpf