PRECIPITEAU
What is PrecipiTEAU?
PrecipiTEAU is a real-time monitoring platform that shows how precipitation zones are affecting different regions across Europe. Its primary goal is timely awareness — helping users understand current and near-future precipitation conditions, so they can make better decisions and, where possible, avoid dangerous situations caused by heavy rain, freezing rain, or snow.
The platform combines live radar observations with numerical weather model output to provide both a current picture and a short-range outlook, updated automatically around the clock.
Data Sources
Radar map (RATE) — Near-real-time precipitation rates from the EUMETNET OPERA pan-European radar composite network, covering 35+ European countries. Composites are updated every 15 minutes and retrieved from the open openradar S3 archive.
Daily Total map (ACRR) — Accumulated precipitation since 00:00 UTC, built from the official OPERA hourly accumulation product (ACRR). Because ACRR carries an approximate 2-hour lag from real time, the most recent hours are estimated directly from the radar rate (RATE × 15 min) until the official accumulation files become available.
Precipitation type (ICON-EU) — Surface precipitation type classification (rain, snow, freezing rain, ice pellets, mixed, hail) is derived from the ICON-EU model, operated by Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) and published openly every 3 hours.
1-hour forecast (PySTEPS) — The ⚡ Forecast overlay is a radar-based nowcast generated entirely from recent OPERA radar frames using PySTEPS optical-flow motion estimation (Lucas–Kanade). No NWP model is involved.
Methodology
Precipitation type is classified by our own implementation of the Ramer ice-fraction algorithm applied column-by-column to ICON-EU temperature, relative humidity, and wet-bulb temperature profiles downscaled to a 1 km terrain model. The method diagnoses rain, snow, freezing rain, ice pellets, and mixed precipitation at the surface.
Reference: Ramer, J. (1993): An empirical technique for diagnosing precipitation type from model output. Preprints, 5th Int. Conf. on Aviation Weather Systems, Vienna, VA, Amer. Meteor. Soc., 227–230.
Team
PrecipiTEAU is built by a data scientist and a meteorologist who crossed paths at WeatherXM and share a deep passion for weather.
Disclaimer
PrecipiTEAU is provided for informational purposes only. The precipitation data displayed are derived from third-party sources (EUMETNET OPERA, DWD ICON-EU) and may contain gaps, artefacts, or delays inherent to radar and NWP systems. The developers make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. PrecipiTEAU shall not be held liable for any decisions made or actions taken based on the content of this platform. Do not use this service as the sole basis for safety-critical decisions. Always consult official meteorological authorities and emergency services in situations involving risk to life or property.
