Branch

River

KANE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

LAKE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

YTNUOC ENAK

YTNUOC KOOC

KANE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

LAKE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

YTNUOC ENAK

YTNUOC KOOC

tlaS

Creek

Branch

DuPage

River

East

Branch

DuPage

River

Des Plaines River

tseW

70983

70533 70534

70083

70084

70085 69632

69633

69634

69635

69182 69636 69183 69184

69185 68732

69186

68733

68734 68735 68736

68283

68284

68285 68286

68287 67835

67836

67837

67386

71434

70984

70985

70535

70086

71435

72783

72784

72785

72333

72334 72335

72336 71883

71884

71885 71886

71436

71437

70986 70987

70536

70537

70538

70087

70088

70089

69637

69638

69639

69187 69188

69189 69190

69640

Prepared in cooperation with the DuPage County Stormwater Management Department

Processing of Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor 

Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation 

Forecast Data for the DuPage County Streamflow 

Simulation System

Open-File Report 2017–1159

Prepared in cooperation with the DuPage County Stormwater Management Department

Processing of Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor 

Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation 

Forecast Data for the DuPage County Streamflow 

Simulation System

Open-File Report 2017–1159

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Map

area

ILLINOIS
Cover figure. The next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor precipitation 

estimates (MPE) grid cells within the Salt Creek and West Branch DuPage River drainage basins 

in DuPage County, Illinois. (A detailed explanation may be found on page 2, figure 1.)
Processing of Next Generation Weather 

Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates 

and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast 

Data for the DuPage County Streamflow 

Simulation System

By Maitreyee Bera and Terry Ortel

Prepared in cooperation with the DuPage County Stormwater 

Management Department

Open-File Report 2017–1159

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

RYAN K. ZINKE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

William H. Werkheiser, Deputy Director

 exercising the authority of the Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2018

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS.

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit https://store.usgs.gov.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials 

as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

Suggested citation:

Bera, Maitreyee, and Ortel, T.W., 2018, Processing of next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation 

estimates and quantitative precipitation forecast data for the DuPage County streamflow simulation system: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1159, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171159.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope .......................................................................................................................................3

Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates ...............................................3

Salt Creek Drainage Basin ..................................................................................................................3

West Branch DuPage River Drainage Basin....................................................................................5

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts..........................................................................................................7

Summary..........................................................................................................................................................8

References Cited............................................................................................................................................8

Appendix 1.......................................................................................................................................................9

Figures

1. Map showing the next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor 

precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cells within the Salt Creek and West Branch 

DuPage River drainage basins in DuPage County, Illinois.....................................................2

2. Map showing the next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor 

precipitation estimates (MPE) subbasins and the corresponding assigned dataset 

numbers in the Salt Creek drainage basin in and near DuPage County, Illinois................4

3. Map showing the next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor 

precipitation estimates (MPE) subbasins and the corresponding assigned 

dataset numbers of the West Branch DuPage River drainage basin in and near 

DuPage County, Illinois ................................................................................................................6

Tables

1. U.S Geological Survey streamgages in Salt Creek drainage basin .....................................5

2. The next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates subbasins 

of the Salt Creek drainage basin and the corresponding dataset number.........................5

3. U.S Geological Survey streamgages in West Branch DuPage River drainage basin...........7

4. The next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates 

subbasins of the West Branch DuPage River drainage basin and the 

corresponding dataset number..................................................................................................7

1–1. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the 

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the 

contribution factor in Salt Creek drainage basin ..................................................................10

1–2. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)

-multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the 

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the 

contribution factor in West Branch DuPage River drainage basin....................................13
iv

Conversion Factors

U.S. customary units to International System of Units

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2

) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Abbreviations

DSN dataset number

FEQ Full Equations hydraulic model

HYDHR Hydrologic Simulation Program–Fortran hourly observations

HSPF Hydrologic Simulation Program–Fortran

MAGIC meteorologic and hydrologic genscn (generate scenarios) input converter

MPE multisensor precipitation estimates

NEXRAD next generation weather radar

NWS National Weather Service

QPF quantitative precipitation forecast

UCI user-control input

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

WBDR West Branch DuPage River

WDM Watershed Data Management
Processing of Next Generation Weather RadarMultisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative 

Precipitation Forecast Data for the DuPage County 

Streamflow Simulation System

By Maitreyee Bera and Terry Ortel

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with DuPage 

County Stormwater Management Department, is testing a 

near real-time streamflow simulation system that assists in 

the management and operation of reservoirs and other floodcontrol structures in the Salt Creek and West Branch DuPage 

River drainage basins in DuPage County, Illinois. As part of 

this effort, the U.S. Geological Survey maintains a database of 

hourly meteorological and hydrologic data for use in this near 

real-time streamflow simulation system. Among these data are 

next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates and quantitative precipitation forecast data, which are 

retrieved from the North Central River Forecasting Center of 

the National Weather Service. The DuPage County streamflow 

simulation system uses these quantitative precipitation forecast 

data to create streamflow predictions for the two simulated 

drainage basins. This report discusses in detail how these data 

are processed for inclusion in the Watershed Data Management files used in the streamflow simulation system for the 

Salt Creek and West Branch DuPage River drainage basins.

Introduction

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with 

the DuPage County Stormwater Management Department, is 

testing a coupled hydrologic and hydraulic routing model system for two drainage basins in DuPage County, Illinois—the 

Salt Creek (Ishii and others, 1998) and West Branch DuPage 

River (hereafter referred to as WBDR) (Ortel, 2015) (fig. 1). 

For the hydrologic modeling, the Hydrologic Simulation 

Program–Fortran (HSPF) is used (Bicknell and others, 2001). 

An hourly time step is used in the HSPF model simulation 

because the Salt Creek and WBDR are small drainage basins 

and include large areas of developed urban infrastructure. 

The latest available data for next generation weather radar 

(NEXRAD)-multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) data 

(National Weather Service, Advanced Hydrologic Prediction 

Service, 2017) and data from a tipping-bucket rain gage 

network are downloaded and stored in the database before 

running the hydrologic and hydraulic models. The rain gage 

network is operated by the USGS in cooperation with DuPage 

County Stormwater Management Department. These two precipitation inputs are supplemented with quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF) data for a period of up to 72 hours beyond 

the latest available data to create streamflow predictions for 

the two simulated drainage basins.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has provided 

NEXRAD–MPE data (National Weather Service, Advanced 

Hydrologic Prediction Service, 2017) from the Weather 

Surveillance Radar, 1988 Doppler (WSR–88D) network since 

the early 1990s (Kitzmiller and others, 2013). The NWS 

River Forecast Centers routinely use algorithms to combine 

radar precipitation estimates with rain gage measurements 

and satellite estimates. This MPE product maintains the high 

spatial and temporal resolution of the NEXRAD precipitation 

estimates while incorporating the accuracy of ground-based 

point observations. The River Forecast Centers produce and 

distribute the gridded MPE data hourly using a variety of formats. The GRIdded Binary formatted data (National Centers 

for Environmental Prediction, 2017) used in this report are 

distributed by the North Central River Forecast Center and use 

the Hydrologic Rainfall Analysis Project grid (Fulton, 1998).

The NWS QPF file used in the flood-simulation system 

contains the forecasted 6-hour precipitation totals and are typically available for 72 hours. The forecasted 6-hour precipitation totals are then distributed into hourly values using the 

meteorologic and hydrologic genscn (generate scenarios) input 

converter (MAGIC) (Ortel and Martin, 2010). The distributions are based on the 10-, 50-, and 90-percent probability 

distributions developed by Huff (1990). 
2 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000. 

Illinois State Plane East FIPS 1201 in feet.

North American Datum of 1983

Branch

River

KANE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

LAKE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

YTNUOC ENAK

YTNUOC KOOC

KANE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

DUPAGE COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

LAKE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

YTNUOC ENAK

YTNUOC KOOC

tlaS

Creek

Branch

DuPage

River

East

Branch

DuPage

River

Des Plaines River

tseW

70983

70533

70534

70083

70084

70085 69632

69633

69634

69635

69182

69636 69183 69184

69185 68732

69186

68733

68734 68735 68736

68283

68284

68285 68286

68287 67835

67836

67837

67386

71434

70984

70985

70535

70086

71435

72783

72784

72785

72333

72334 72335

72336 71883

71884

71885 71886

71436

71437

70986

70987

70536

70537

70538

70087

70088

70089

69637

69638

69639

69187 69188

69189 69190

69640

88°10' 88°00' 87°50'

42°10'

42°00'

41°50'

41°40'

Map

area

ILLINOIS

EXPLANATION

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell covering Salt Creek and West Branch 

 DuPage River drainage basin and grid number

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell covering Salt Creek drainage basin 

 and grid number

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell covering West Branch DuPage River

 drainage basin and grid number

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell

Salt Creek drainage basin

West Branch DuPage River drainage basin

County boundary

69186

70086

69187

Figure 1. The next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cells within the 

Salt Creek and West Branch DuPage River drainage basins in DuPage County, Illinois.
Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates 3

Purpose and Scope

This report documents the processes used by the USGS 

to create basin-mean and subbasin-mean model-input precipitation time-series data using the NEXRAD–MPE product. 

The hydrologic rainfall-runoff model domain for the DuPage 

County simulation system is divided into subbasins based on 

the drainage basin and the available observed data (stage and 

discharge). For this reason, the NEXRAD–MPE gridded data 

are grouped into regional mean precipitation values, which 

can be interpreted as hypothetical rain gage measurements 

representing precipitation for a specific area of the drainage 

basin. These hypothetical rain gage precipitation measurement 

data are supplemented with NWS QPF data. These data are 

used in the DuPage County streamflow simulation system to 

produce streamflow forecasts across the region defined by the 

two drainage basins in DuPage County, Ill. This report focuses 

on the DuPage County, Ill., region, but the techniques used in 

this study can be applied to other areas planning to use NWS 

NEXRAD–MPE data in conjunction with the HSPF model.

Next Generation Weather RadarMultisensor Precipitation Estimates

The HSPF uses a system of Watershed Data Management 

(WDM) files to store the meteorological and hydrologic data 

for input to the streamflow simulation system. To distinguish 

each basin or subbasin precipitation time series, a user-defined 

dataset number (DSN) is designated within the HSPF usercontrol input (UCI) files. Within the DuPage County HSPF 

modeling system, five UCI files and two WDM files are used 

for each basin to prepare the NEXRAD–MPE data and run 

the streamflow simulation with the NEXRAD–MPE data 

represented as a virtual rain gage. Of the two WDM files, one 

is used to upload the HSPF hourly-observations (HYDHR) formatted NEXRAD–MPE data (Bicknell and others, 2001). This 

process requires two UCI files for each basin. A third UCI file 

is used to store the user-defined NEXRAD–MPE data representing a virtual rain gage in the second WDM file. The fourth 

UCI file is used to append the QPF data to each of these new 

DSNs created in the second WDM file and, finally, the fifth 

UCI file pairs the preconfigured land use breakdown (pervious 

and impervious coverage) for each drainage basin subbasin to 

the corresponding NEXRAD–MPE DSN associated with each 

subbasin (fig. 1). The second WDM file is the primary file that 

contains the required meteorological and hydrologic data for 

the simulation. For simplicity, the NEXRAD–MPE data are 

processed separately for the two drainage basins in the DuPage 

County simulation system. 

The NEXRAD–MPE data files are converted to HSPF 

HYDHR formatted data files and given the file extension (.hsp) 

as described in detail in Ortel and Spies (2015). The next step 

in preparing the NEXRAD–MPE data for use in a hydrologic 

simulation using HSPF is to assign a unique DSN to each 

HYDHR formatted file and upload those files to a WDM file. 

The unique DSN is assigned and the data are uploaded to the 

WDM file by using two UCI files for each basin. The DSNs 

containing the HYDHR formatted file in SALTNEXRAD.

WDM for Salt Creek drainage basin are listed in appendix 

table 1–1, and the DSNs containing the HYDHR formatted 

file in WBNEXRAD.WDM for the WBDR drainage basin are 

listed in appendix table 1–2. These DSNs are grouped based on 

the user-specified or the drainage basin model-specified subbasin regions, and each NEXRAD–MPE grid cell is assigned 

a unique DSN. Within each subbasin, a NEXRAD grid cell is 

assigned a contribution factor based on the fraction of the cell 

area that is contained in the total subbasin area. The data associated with these new DSNs are appended to the primary WDM 

containing the other required meteorological and hydrologic 

data for the simulation, using the third UCI file. The DSNs and 

the contribution factors assigned to a NEXRAD grid cell for 

Salt Creek and WBDR drainage basins are listed in appendix 

tables 1–1 and 1–2, respectively. SEP11.WDM (Bera, 2014) 

and WBDR13.WDM (Bera, 2017) are the primary WDMs for 

the Salt Creek and the WBDR drainage basin, respectively. The 

fourth UCI file is used to append the QPF data to each of these 

new DSNs created in the primary WDM.

Finally, the fifth UCI file pairs the preconfigured land use 

breakdown (pervious and impervious coverage) for each drainage basin subbasin to the corresponding NEXRAD–MPE DSN 

associated with each subbasin (fig. 1). This UCI file contains 

other input information required to run the HSPF simulation, 

from which the final output is the rainfall-runoff time series 

that are input into the Full Equations (FEQ) hydraulic model 

(Franz and Melching, 1997).

Salt Creek Drainage Basin

The Salt Creek drainage basin has five USGS streamgages 

(site map identifiers A, B, C, D, and E [table 1; fig. 2]). This 

drainage basin is subdivided into five subbasins based on the 

five streamgages at the downstream end of each of the respective subbasins (fig. 2). These 5 subbasins are further subdivided 

to define 10 NEXRAD–MPE subbasins as listed in table 2, 

some of which are combinations of others. The subbasin B 

(DSN 802) is the combination of the two NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasins with DSNs 808 and 809. This subdivision is based 

on the Thiessen polygons using rain gages 45 and 70 (Bera, 

2014). Similarly, the subbasin C (DSN 807) is the combination 

of the two NEXRAD–MPE subbasins with the DSNs 805 and 

806. This subdivision is based on the Thiessen polygons using 

rain gages 29 and 50 (Bera, 2014). The DSNs corresponding 

to the ten NEXRAD–MPE subbasins and the contribution 

factors assigned to these subbasins are listed in appendix 

table 1–1, and the NEXRAD–MPE subbasins are shown in figure 2. The processed NEXRAD–MPE grid cell data associated 

with those DSNs are contained in SEP11.WDM (Bera, 2014).
4 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

COOK COUNTY

DU PAGE COUNTY

E (05531500)

810

Salt

Creek

Spring

Brook

Sugar 

802

807

801

808

805

803

804

806

809

COOK COUNTY

DU PAGE COUNTY

LAKE COUNTY

COOK COUNTY

Creek

50

70

A (05530990)

B (05531044)

C (05531175)

D (05531300)

E (05531500)

45

29

0 1 2 3 4 MILES 5

0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS 5

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000. 

Illinois State Plane East FIPS 1201 in feet.

North American Datum of 1983

88°10' 88°05' 88°00' 87°55' 87°50'

42°05'

42°00'

41°55'

41°50'

EXPLANATION

Dataset number for divided subbasin

U.S. Geological Survey streamgage and

 site map identifier at downstream-most 

 outlet of subbasin—See table 1 for site 

 map list. U.S. Geological Survey station 

 number shown in parentheses

805

Subbasin A

Subbasin B

Subbasin C

Subbasin D

Subbasin E

810

802

807

803

804

Subbasin(s) with dataset number(s)

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell boundary

Salt Creek drainage basin

Divided subbasin boundary

U.S. Geological Survey stand-alone rain

 gage and identifier

70

A (05530990)

Figure 2. The next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) subbasins and the 

corresponding assigned dataset numbers in the Salt Creek drainage basin in and near DuPage County, Illinois.
Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates 5

Table 1. U.S Geological Survey streamgages in Salt Creek drainage basin.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey]

Site map identifier 

(fig. 2) Station name USGS station number

A Salt Creek at Rolling Meadows, Illinois 05530990

B Salt Creek near Elk Grove Village, Illinois 05531044

C Salt Creek at Wood Dale, Illinois 05531175

D Salt Creek at Elmhurst, Illinois 05531300

E Salt Creek at Western Springs, Illinois 05531500

Table 2. The next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates subbasins of the 

Salt Creek drainage basin and the corresponding dataset number.

[DSN, dataset number; NEXRAD, next generation weather radar; MPE, multisensor precipitation estimates. Subbasins A-D for 

corresponding streamgages listed in table 1]

DSN NEXRAD–MPE subbasins Area (square miles)

801 Total lower Salt Creek subbasin (DSN 803 plus DSN 804) 42.71

802 Subbasin B (DSN 808 plus DSN 809) 21.67

803 Subbasin D 18.75

804 Subbasin E 23.96

805 Subbasin C, Thiessen polygon corresponding to rain gage 501

 (DSN 150) 14.74

806 Subbasin C, Thiessen polygon corresponding to rain gage 291

 (DSN 129) 6.95

807 Subbasin C (DSN 805 plus DSN 806) 21.69

808 Subbasin B, Thiessen polygon corresponding to rain gage 701

 (DSN 170) 13.06

809 Subbasin B, Thiessen polygon corresponding to rain gage 451

 (DSN 145) 8.62

810 Subbasin A 30.44

1

These rain gages are shown in figure 2 and the detail processing of the data from these rain gages in SEP11.WDM are 

described in Bera (2014).

West Branch DuPage River Drainage Basin

The WBDR drainage basin has four USGS streamgages 

(site map identifiers A, B, C, and D [table 3; fig 3]). This 

drainage basin is subdivided into 11 subbasins based on 8 

tributaries, and the main stem is divided into 3 subbasins—

upper, middle, and lower. The upper and middle main stem 

subbasins are based on the streamgage locations. These 11 

subbasins are used as a guide to define 11 NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasins as listed in table 4 and shown in figure 3. The DSNs 

corresponding to the 11 NEXRAD–MPE subbasins and the 

contribution factors assigned to these subbasins are listed 

in appendix table 1–2. The DSNs 801 through 811 (table 4) 

contain the NEXRAD–MPE data from those 11 NEXRAD–

MPE subbasins. The WDM file WBDR13.WDM (Bera, 2017) 

for the streamflow simulation system of the WBDR drainage 

basin contains the data associated with those DSNs.
6 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

KANE COUNTY

KENDALL 

COUNTY

807

805

809

808

Cress Creek

West Branch

DuPage River

upper

main stem

801

811

806

Tributary 3

Tributary 5

803

802

810

804

Fox

River

Salt

Creek

COOK COUNTY

DU PAGE COUNTY

DU PAGE COUNTY

WILL COUNTY

KANE COUNTY

KENDALL 

COUNTY

Tributary 2

West Branch

DuPage River

lower

main stem

West Branch

DuPage River

middle

main stem

A (05539900)

B (05540060)

C (05540095)

D (05540130)

East 

Branch

DuPage

River

0 1 2 3 4 MILES 5

0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS 5

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000. 

Illinois State Plane East FIPS 1201 in feet.

North American Datum of 1983

EXPLANATION

West Branch DuPage River

 upper main stem and 

 tributary 2

Tributary 1

Tributary 4

West Branch DuPage River

 middle main stem, 

 tributary 3, and tributary 5

Kress Creek

Winfield Creek

Klein Creek

Springbrook 1

Ferry Creek 

Steeple Run 

Cress Creek and West

 Branch DuPage River

 lower main stem

NEXRAD−MPE subbasin(s) 

 with dataset number

801

802

803

804

805

806

807

808

809

810

811

West Branch DuPage

 River drainage basin

NEXRAD−MPE grid cell

 boundary

Divided subbasin boundary

A (05530990) U.S. Geological Survey stream-

 gage and site map identifier 

 at downstream-most outlet 

 of subbasin—See table 3 

 for site map list. U.S. 

 Geological Survey station 

 number shown in 

 parentheses

88°15' 88°10' 88°05' 88°00'

42°00'

41°55'

41°50'

41°45'

Figure 3. The next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) subbasins and the 

corresponding assigned dataset numbers of the West Branch DuPage River drainage basin in and near DuPage County, 

Illinois.
Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts 7

Table 3. U.S Geological Survey streamgages in West Branch DuPage River drainage basin.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; WBDR, West Branch DuPage River]

Site map identifier 

(fig. 3) Station name USGS station number

A WBDR near West Chicago, Illinois 05539900

B Kress Creek at West Chicago, Illinois 05540060

C WBDR near Warrenville, Illinois 05540095

D WBDR near Naperville, Illinois 05540130

Table 4. The next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates 

subbasins of the West Branch DuPage River drainage basin and the corresponding 

dataset number.

[DSN, dataset number; NEXRAD, next generation weather radar; MPE, multisensor precipitation 

estimates. WBDR, West Branch DuPage River]

DSN NEXRAD–MPE subbasins Area (square miles)

801 WBDR upper main stem and tributary 2 25.67

802 Tributary 1 2.69

803 Tributary 4 2.95

804 WBDR middle main stem, tributary 3 and tributary 5 12.73

805 Klein Creek 12.65

806 Winfield Creek 8.47

807 Kress Creek 18.93

808 Springbrook 1 7.69

809 Ferry Creek 12.38

810 Steeple Run 2.75

811 Cress Creek and WBDR lower main stem 18.96

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts

The QPF data, produced by the NWS Weather Prediction 

Center, are used operationally by the River Forecast Centers to 

produce streamflow forecasts across the country. The DuPage 

County simulation system also uses these QPF data to create 

streamflow predictions for the two simulated drainage basins. 

The QPF product is distributed as a basin-mean time series 

(National Weather Service, North Central River Forecast 

Center, 2017b). The hydrologic forecast is provided at a location, along a river or stream, called a forecast point. The QPF 

data obtained for the DuPage County streamflow simulation 

system applies to the reach upstream from the North Central 

River Forecast Center forecast points WSPI2 and WRNI2 

(National Weather Service, North Central River Forecast 

Center, 2017a). The USGS streamgage 05531500, Salt Creek 

at Western Springs, Ill., is represented by WSPI2 and the 

USGS streamgage 05540095, WBDR at Warrenville, Ill., is 

represented by WRNI2. The QPF data are lumped into 6-hour 

accumulated values and are typically available for 72 hours.

To incorporate the basin-mean QPF data into the DuPage 

County simulation system, MAGIC (Ortel and Martin, 2010) 

is used to distribute the 6-hour QPF total values into an hourly 

total value based on the method developed by Huff (1990). 

This hourly QPF precipitation value is then appended to each 

of the NEXRAD-derived DSNs corresponding to each subbasin groups in the Salt Creek and the WBDR drainage basins. 

This method allows for incorporation of the QPF data without 

changing the spatial configuration of the model. 
8 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

Summary

Next generation weather radar-multisensor precipitation 

estimates data provide a high spatial and temporal resolution 

precipitation input for hydrologic streamflow simulations. This 

report documents the processes used by the U.S. Geological 

Survey to create basin-mean and subbasin model-input precipitation time-series data using the next generation weather 

radar-multisensor precipitation estimates product. Although 

this report focuses on the DuPage County, Illinois, region, 

the techniques used in this study can be applied to other areas 

planning to use National Weather Service next generation 

weather radar-multisensor precipitation estimates data within 

the Hydrologic Simulation Program–Fortran model.

References Cited 

Bera, Maitreyee, 2017, Watershed Data Management (WDM) 

database for West Branch DuPage River streamflow simulation, DuPage County, Illinois, January 1, 2007–September 30, 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2017–1099, 39 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171099. 

Bera, Maitreyee, 2014, Watershed Data Management (WDM) 

database for Salt Creek streamflow simulation, DuPage 

County, Illinois, water years 2005–11: U.S. Geological 

Survey Data Series 870, 18 p., https://dx.doi.org/10.3133/

ds870.

Bicknell, B.R.; Imhoff, J.C.; Kittle, J.L., Jr.; Jobes, T.H.; and 

Donigian, A.S., Jr., 2001, Hydrological Simulation Program—Fortran, Version 12, User’s Manual: Athens, Ga., 

National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research 

and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 

819 p.

Franz, D.D., and Melching, C.S., 1997, Full Equations (FEQ) 

model for the solution of the full, dynamic equations of 

motion for one-dimensional unsteady flow in open channels and through control structures: U.S. Geological Survey 

Water-Resources Investigations Report 96–4240, 207 p., 

plus appendixes.

Fulton, R.A., 1998, WSR–88D polar-to-HRAP mapping: 

Silver Spring, Md., National Weather Service, Office of 

Hydrology, Hydrologic Research Laboratory Technical 

Memorandum, 33 p.

Huff, F.A., 1990, Time distribution of heavy rainstorms 

in Illinois: Champaign, Ill., Illinois State Water Survey 

Circular 173, 18 p.

Ishii, A.L., Charlton, T.J., Ortel, T.W., and Vonnahme, C.C., 

1998, Modeling system for near real-time flood simulation 

for Salt Creek in Du Page County, Illinois in First Federal 

Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, Las Vegas, 

Nev., April 19–23, 1998, Proceedings: Las Vegas, Nev., 

Subcommittee on Hydrology, Interagency Advisory Committee on Water Data, p. 8.51–8.58.

Kitzmiller, David, Miller, Dennis, Fulton, Richard, 

Ding, Feng, 2013, Radar and multisensor precipitation 

estimation techniques in National Weather Service 

hydrologic operations: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 

v. 18, no. 2, p. 133–142.

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WMO GRIB2 documentation, version 19.0.0: accessed 

September 21, 2017, at http://www.nco.ncep.noaa.gov/pmb/

docs/grib2/grib2_doc.shtml.

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Service, 2017, About the precipitation analysis pages: 

accessed July 3, 2017, at http://water.weather.gov/precip/

about.php.

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Center, 2017a, List of NCRFC forecast points by forecast 

group: accessed August 8, 2017, at https://www.weather.

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Ortel, T.W., and Martin, Angle, Jr., 2010, User’s guide for 

MAGIC—Meteorologic and hydrologic genscn (generate 

scenarios) input converter: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2010–1221, 10 p.

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precipitation estimates, data acquisition, and processing for 

the DuPage County, Illinois, streamflow-simulation modeling system: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2015–3076, 

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simulation for small urban watersheds in North Eastern Illinois, the 11th National Hydrologic Warning Council Training Conference and Exposition, Conference Presentation: 

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Appendix 1.

Table 1–1. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor 

precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE subbasin within the 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in Salt Creek drainage basin.

Table 1–2. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-multisensor 

precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE subbasin within the 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in West Branch DuPage River drainage basin.
10 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

Table 1–1. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in Salt Creek 

drainage basin.—Continued 

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in Sep11.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in SALTNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell

DSN 801

69187 8001 0.000012

69188 8002 0.048378

69189 8003 0.060054

69190 8004 0.000502

69637 8005 0.032361

69638 8006 0.162449

69639 8007 0.129109

69640 8008 0.012365

70086 8009 0.003373

70087 8010 0.091490

70088 8011 0.150487

70089 8012 0.044967

70536 8014 0.036188

70537 8015 0.155700

70538 8016 0.044622

70986 8019 0.001277

70987 8020 0.026666

DSN 802

70985 8018 0.047091

70986 8019 0.027096

71434 8021 0.054219

71435 8022 0.319419

71436 8023 0.274927

71437 8024 0.000006

71884 8026 0.010240

71885 8027 0.112729

71886 8028 0.154272

DSN 803

70086 8009 0.007685

70087 8010 0.198747

70088 8011 0.182799

70089 8012 0.008227

70536 8014 0.082452

70537 8015 0.354754

70538 8016 0.101668

70986 8019 0.002910

70987 8020 0.060758
Appendix 1 11

Table 1–1. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in Salt Creek 

drainage basin.—Continued 

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in Sep11.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in SALTNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell

DSN 804

69187 8001 0.000021

69188 8002 0.086219

69189 8003 0.107028

69190 8004 0.000895

69637 8005 0.057674

69638 8006 0.289517

69639 8007 0.230098

69640 8008 0.022038

70087 8010 0.007594

70088 8011 0.125211

70089 8012 0.073706

DSN 805

70535 8013 0.191648

70536 8014 0.157372

70984 8017 0.004974

70985 8018 0.331222

70986 8019 0.311845

71435 8022 0.000559

71436 8023 0.002381

DSN 806

70536 8014 0.000004

70986 8019 0.247169

70987 8020 0.443731

71436 8023 0.096206

71437 8024 0.212890

DSN 807

70535 8013 0.130229

70536 8014 0.106939

70984 8017 0.003380

70985 8018 0.225073

70986 8019 0.291118

70987 8020 0.142205

71435 8022 0.000380

71436 8023 0.032450

71437 8024 0.068226
12 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

Table 1–1. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in Salt Creek 

drainage basin.—Continued 

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in Sep11.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in SALTNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell

DSN 808

70985 8018 0.078168

70986 8019 0.029170

71434 8021 0.089999

71435 8022 0.530200

71436 8023 0.084329

71884 8026 0.016998

71885 8027 0.171137

DSN 809

70986 8019 0.023954

71435 8022 0.000014

71436 8023 0.563748

71437 8024 0.000016

71885 8027 0.024222

71886 8028 0.388046

DSN 810

71434 8021 0.021510

71883 8025 0.003663

71884 8026 0.121880

71885 8027 0.148594

71886 8028 0.016629

72333 8029 0.019916

72334 8030 0.226214

72335 8031 0.229004

72336 8032 0.020288

72783 8033 0.005616

72784 8034 0.101032

72785 8035 0.085655
Appendix 1 13

Table 1–2. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in West Branch 

DuPage River drainage basin.—Continued

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in WBDR13.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in WBNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–

MPE grid cell

DSN 801

71435 9036 0.000816

71434 9035 0.035421

70983 9034 0.052576

70984 9033 0.248382

70985 9032 0.041879

70533 9031 0.130459

70534 9030 0.188894

70535 9029 0.028421

70083 9028 0.135316

70084 9027 0.125707

69633 9023 0.003822

69634 9022 0.008307

DSN 802

70534 9030 0.65875

70535 9029 0.34125

DSN 803

70084 9027 0.8139

69634 9022 0.1861

DSN 804

70084 9027 0.00095

70083 9028 0.00542

69633 9023 0.04913

69634 9022 0.36301

69635 9021 0.02331

69184 9017 0.37942

69185 9016 0.01118

68734 9012 0.10051

68735 9011 0.06707

DSN 805

70534 9030 0.03169

70535 9029 0.08632

70084 9027 0.10872

70085 9026 0.46808

69634 9022 0.08788

69635 9021 0.21731
14 Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data

Table 1–2. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in West Branch 

DuPage River drainage basin.—Continued

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in WBDR13.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in WBNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–

MPE grid cell

DSN 806

70085 9026 0.05163

70086 9025 0.08968

69635 9021 0.43004

69636 9020 0.15587

69184 9017 0.01636

69185 9016 0.2564

DSN 807

70083 9028 0.005

69632 9024 0.11803

69633 9023 0.30765

69634 9022 0.02525

69182 9019 0.08113

69183 9018 0.35305

69184 9017 0.07444

68732 9014 0.00106

68733 9013 0.03439

DSN 808

69635 9021 0.04094

69636 9020 0.18933

69184 9017 0.06405

69185 9016 0.49767

69186 9015 0.16319

68734 9012 0.03474

68735 9011 0.01008

DSN 809

69183 9018 0.02575

69184 9017 0.00787

68733 9013 0.26725

68734 9012 0.43853

68735 9011 0.00804

68283 9009 0.0147

68284 9008 0.23769

68285 9007 0.00017
Appendix 1 15

Table 1–2. Dataset number assigned to each next generation weather radar (NEXRAD)-

multisensor precipitation estimates (MPE) grid cell and the fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–MPE grid cell used for the contribution factor in West Branch 

DuPage River drainage basin.—Continued

[Grid cell numbers are shown in figure 1; DSN, dataset number]

NEXRAD–MPE subbasin DSN in WBDR13.WDM

NEXRAD–MPE 

grid cell number 

NEXRAD–MPE grid cell DSN 

in WBNEXRAD.WDM

Fraction of the NEXRAD–MPE 

subbasin within the NEXRAD–

MPE grid cell

DSN 810

68736 9010 0.40796

68285 9007 0.00323

68286 9006 0.58881

DSN 811

68734 9012 0.00063

68735 9011 0.24416

68736 9010 0.02735

68284 9008 0.01167

68285 9007 0.25635

68286 9006 0.23808

68287 9005 0.02198

67835 9004 0.0164

67836 9003 0.15453

67837 9002 0.0237

67386 9001 0.00514
For more information about this publication, contact

Director, Illinois Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey

405 North Goodwin Avenue

Urbana, IL 61801-2347

Science Publishing support provided by the Madison and Rolla 

Publishing Service Centers

Bera and Ortel—Processing Next Generation Weather Radar-Multisensor Precipitation Estimates and Quantitative Precipitation Forecast Data—Open-File Report 2017–1159 

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171159