Abstract ID: 3.12514 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Validating precipitation in high-resolution climate models is challenged by insufficient spatial and temporal observations, particularly for precipitation in complex and mountanious terrain. Traditional datasets, relying on sparse official weather stations and gridded observations, often lack the spatio-temporal resolution needed for accurate localized studies. This study is two-fold and investigates the potential of integrating Personal Weather Stations (PWSs) to enhance spatial precipitation distribution insights in complex terrain, and the potential to increased spatial datasets to validate regional climate models. 1) A case study of a convective burst also demonstrated the value of PWSs. The intense 45 minute event recorded precipitation of 55.8 mm at a PWS, compared to 28.1 mm at the nearest MET station, kilometers away. This highlighted PWSs ability to capture high localized variability and provided critical data during extreme events. 2) After a quality control, the precipitation from 87% of about 600 PWSs in Western Norway was meshed with 90 official meteorological stations. PWSs provided significantly improved spatial coverage, especially in populated areas, revealing spatial variability often missed by traditional gridded precipitation datasets. Simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) regional climate model match observed spatial variability and thereby supports the reliability of PWS data. In conclusion, PWS networks significantly enhance observational coverage, aiding high-resolution model validation and local precipitation understanding. As PWS numbers grow, refined quality control measures will further solidify their role in meteorological research and emergency preparedness, particularly for localized extreme weather events in complex terrain.