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Catchment precipitation accumulation and radar composite across mountain tributaries
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CATCHMENT HYDROLOGY & RAINFALL API

Catchment Rainfall API — Upstream totals by tributary and rolling window.

Observed and forecast rainfall totals for the area upstream of each river sensor, broken down by tributary sub-catchment across rolling 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48-hour accumulation windows. Blends Tomorrow.io precipitation radar with numerical weather grids.

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Illustrative agriculture imagery

THE DECISION IT SUPPORTS

How much rain has fallen upstream of each river gauge—and how much is coming in the next 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours?

By delineating hydrological sub-basins above each river monitoring station, AtmosGrid computes rolling rainfall accumulations per tributary. Operations teams know which fork or ridge is receiving heavy downpours hours before the water reaches downstream sensors.

Built for

  • River sensor network operators
  • Catchment flood warning authorities
  • Hydrological digital twin platforms
  • Municipal flood defense & siren controllers

WHY TEAMS USE IT

Turn broad data into a clearer next step.

Each result is designed to narrow a decision, show the inputs behind it, and surface what must still be checked locally.

01

Isolate tributary contributions

Identify which upstream sub-basin is receiving the heaviest rainfall before downpours reach confluence sensors.

02

Track rolling accumulations

Monitor 3h, 6h, 12h, and 24h windows to evaluate flash flood risks and sustained catchment saturation.

03

Eliminate single-station blindness

Replace point rain gauges with continuous spatial catchment coverage across steep headwaters.

04

Bridge radar and numerical models

Blend live precipitation radar with 48h forecasts for seamless operational foresight.

FROM REGION TO FIELD

See where each signal fits.

Images illustrate the operational setting. They are not live observations; use source timestamps and local measurements for decisions.

Radar, satellite and numerical grid integrationPRECIPITATION BLEND

Radar, satellite and numerical grid integration

Blends sub-hourly precipitation radar with numerical weather predictions across topographical contours.

Rolling 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h & 48h windowsTRIBUTARY ACCUMULATION

Rolling 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h & 48h windows

Isolates which upstream sub-catchment is receiving the highest rainfall volume before it reaches sensors.

Upstream catchment intensity and trendRUNOFF SCREENING

Upstream catchment intensity and trend

Classifies whether rain intensity is accelerating, steady, or waning across tributary watersheds.

THE INFORMATION STACK

What goes in—and what it helps explain.

Availability is stated per input. AtmosGrid never converts a missing parcel observation into a made-up field value.

INFORMATIONSOURCEHOW IT IS USEDSTATUS
01Catchment polygon & tributariesTopographical GIS / DEMDelineates drainage boundaries upstream of each river gauge.REQUIRED
02Precipitation radar compositeTomorrow.io / National radarHigh-resolution sub-hourly observed rainfall rates.REQUIRED
03Numerical weather prediction (NWP)AtmosGrid GFS 0.25° grid48-hour forward precipitation forecast accumulation.REQUIRED
04Satellite infrared precipitationNASA GPM IMERG 0.1°Fills radar beam blockage gaps in steep mountain valleys.OPTIONAL
05Gauge telemetry coordinatesRiver monitoring networkPins pour points and sensor outflow locations.REQUIRED

A PRACTICAL WORKFLOW

From input to reviewable decision.

The workflow keeps model context, field evidence and human approval in their proper places.

  1. 01

    Delineate sub-catchment polygons

    Map the drainage network and tributaries upstream of each operational river gauging station.

  2. 02

    Ingest multi-source precipitation

    Blend sub-hourly radar reflectivities, satellite IR, and numerical forecast grids into a continuous surface.

  3. 03

    Calculate rolling accumulation windows

    Compute area-weighted observed (3h, 6h, 12h, 24h) and forecast (3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 48h) rainfall totals.

  4. 04

    Stream structured catchment payloads

    Deliver JSON responses directly to flood warning dashboards, sirens, and hydrological digital twins.

HOW INFORMATION BECOMES USEFUL

Examples of decisions it can inform.

These are screening patterns, not automatic instructions. Operational thresholds and local advisories remain authoritative.

SCENARIO 01

Sudden convective storm over steep upper headwaters

Signal
Rolling 3h observed rainfall exceeds 25 mm in Upper Ridge tributary while valley gauge shows 0 mm.
Useful action
Alert downstream civil protection teams of approaching tributary surge 4.5 hours in advance of gauge rise.
Check before acting
Verify radar beam quality index to confirm cell is not ground clutter or beam overshoot.
SCENARIO 02

Sustained 24-hour frontal rain with accelerating intensity

Signal
Rolling 24h catchment total exceeds 70 mm and 6h forecast projects an additional 26 mm.
Useful action
Activate preliminary flood barrier mobilization and adjust reservoir outflow spillways.
Check before acting
Check tributary trend flag; decelerating trend may allow standard retention pond management.
SCENARIO 03

Radar blockage in narrow mountain valley reach

Signal
Radar beam blockage flag active; satellite GPM IMERG infill automatically engaged.
Useful action
Rely on satellite-blended catchment total with explicit moderate-confidence flag.
Check before acting
Satellite IR estimation has higher variance on sub-hourly flash events than line-of-sight radar.

FOR PRODUCT TEAMS

A transparent API contract.

The response exposes gaps and limitations so an application can explain confidence instead of hiding it.

POST/api/v1/hydrology/basin/catchment-rainfall

Example request

{
  "catchment_id": "basin-wye-severn-upper",
  "sensor_ids": ["gauge-us-01", "gauge-nf-02", "gauge-sb-04"],
  "sub_tributaries": ["trib-gorge-head", "trib-north-fork", "trib-south-branch"]
}
JSONdecision response

Example response

{
  "catchment_id": "basin-wye-severn-upper",
  "total_catchment_area_km2": 482.6,
  "basin_weighted_totals_mm": {
    "observed": {
      "rolling_3h": 17.6,
      "rolling_6h": 32.8,
      "rolling_12h": 50.4,
      "rolling_24h": 65.2
    },
    "forecast": {
      "next_3h": 14.1,
      "next_6h": 25.4,
      "next_24h": 44.8,
      "next_48h": 56.0
    }
  },
  "upstream_alert_status": "high_runoff_risk",
  "tributary_breakdown": [
    {
      "tributary_id": "trib-south-branch",
      "name": "South Branch Ridge",
      "area_km2": 112.3,
      "observed_accumulation_mm": { "rolling_3h": 22.8, "rolling_6h": 41.0, "rolling_24h": 79.2 },
      "forecast_accumulation_mm": { "next_3h": 19.5, "next_6h": 33.2, "next_24h": 53.8 },
      "intensity_mm_h": 7.6,
      "trend": "accelerating",
      "dominant_source": "blended_radar_satellite"
    }
  ]
}

CAPABILITY BOUNDARIES

Useful now. Honest about what comes next.

Supported now

  • Topographical catchment delineation for upstream gauge polygons
  • Rolling observed accumulation totals (3h, 6h, 12h, 24h)
  • Forward forecast accumulation horizons (3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 48h)
  • Sub-catchment tributary breakdown and rain trend indicators
  • Blended Tomorrow.io radar, GFS numerical grid, and satellite infill

Additional data required

  • Local river cross-section geometry (needed for stage-discharge conversion)
  • Calibrated radar-gauge ground adjustment factors for extreme mountain terrain

BUILD RESPONSIBLY

Use the result to focus attention—not replace field judgment.

Pair AtmosGrid’s regional weather context with local measurements, crop stage, variety guidance and qualified agricultural advice.

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