Skip to content

Precipitation Rates and Interval Accumulation

Convert liquid-equivalent rain-rate units and integrate interval-mean rates with visible missing intervals, time gaps and known-depth coverage.

Use this result well

Inputs that matter
Precipitation rate, Entered rate unit, Sources and assumptions, Mean-rate intervals
Output to expect
Liquid-equivalent precipitation rate, Rate intervals and accumulated depth
  • Check the units and required inputs before comparing results.
  • Keep the assumptions with a copied result so you can reproduce the calculation later.
Was this tool helpful?

Related Tools

Tools you might need next

Rain Gauge Volume and Water-Equivalent Depth

Convert collected liquid volume to rain depth, or depth to collector volume, using the measured horizontal opening area and water-equivalent units.

Recommended next stepMeteorology
Daily Climate Records and Matched Normal Comparisons

Summarize daily climate coverage, rain and degree days, then compare observations with supplied normals on the same matched calendar dates.

Recommended next stepMeteorology
Sprinkler Catch-Can Precipitation Record Check

Reconcile aggregate catch-can volume, collector geometry and runtime with a comparison sprinkler precipitation rate.

Irrigation

Reference & details

How it works

Liquid-equivalent precipitation rate

Convert precipitation rate between explicit depth/time units. One litre per square metre is one millimetre of water depth. Zero rate is valid; no snowfall depth or hazard classification is inferred.

1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 hour = 3600 seconds; 1 L/m² = 1 mm water depth.

Rate intervals and accumulated depth

Integrate interval-mean liquid-equivalent rates over explicit UTC intervals. Reject overlapping intervals and distinguish missing-rate intervals, unlisted time gaps and known zero rainfall.

Known depth = Σ interval-mean rate (mm/h) × interval hours. Coverage is measured between the earliest start and latest end.

Updated: September 2026

Example Scenarios

Inspect the example and its input basis, then substitute your own documented measurements or matched cases.

Precipitation rate: 0.5Entered rate unit: inh

→ 12.7 mm/hour

Inspect the example and its input basis, then substitute your own documented measurements or matched cases.

Mean-rate intervals: Shower | 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z | 2026-09-01T00:30:00Z | 12 Dry interval | 2026-09-01T00:30:00Z | 2026-09-01T01:30:00Z | 0

→ 6 mm known accumulated depth

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mixing observation and model inputs

Use the exact units, timestamp, level and measurement or model basis stated by the selected mode. A similar quantity from another instrument or product is not automatically interchangeable.

Treating an illustrative case as a measurement

Replace the example with your own sourced inputs. Retain missing values and method limits, and keep raw source data alongside a saved calculation.

FAQ

Convert precipitation rate between explicit depth/time units. One litre per square metre is one millimetre of water depth. Zero rate is valid; no snowfall depth or hazard classification is inferred. Integrate interval-mean liquid-equivalent rates over explicit UTC intervals. Reject overlapping intervals and distinguish missing-rate intervals, unlisted time gaps and known zero rainfall.

Retain the station or profile identity, observation or issue/valid time, measurement units, quality flags, source and stated method. Missing values, trace precipitation and known zeros have different meanings.

Save weather case keeps an explicit local record. Copy MD includes current inputs and notes; Download CSV includes the current result breakdown. Keep portable copies separately and retain raw source data.

About Precipitation Rates and Interval Accumulation

Convert precipitation rate between explicit depth/time units. One litre per square metre is one millimetre of water depth. Zero rate is valid; no snowfall depth or hazard classification is inferred. Integrate interval-mean liquid-equivalent rates over explicit UTC intervals. Reject overlapping intervals and distinguish missing-rate intervals, unlisted time gaps and known zero rainfall.