New NOAA Precipitation Frequency Estimates to be published Monday April 15
New precipitation frequency estimates for seventeen Midwestern and
southeastern states will be published by the NWS Office of Hydrologic Development
on April 15th. Strictly web based, the publication of volumes 8 and 9 of NOAA Atlas 14 will be available at www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hdsc. The new publication replaces
estimates published in 1963.
Precipitation frequency estimates are estimates of climate variability. They are used as
design standards for civil infrastructure built to cope with rainfall and runoff such as storm
water drainage systems, roads, bridges, culverts, small dams, roofs, airport runways, in-
stream ecosystems including fish habitat, stream erosion control, pollution control systems,
flood insurance rate maps, soil conservation, etc. These new estimates directly contribute
to the preparation of more cost effective designs, plans, maps, etc.; protecting lives and
property and preventing pollution.
NWS precipitation frequency estimates, prepared since the 1950s, are cited as design
standards in many Federal, State, and Local Government regulations.