Verification of the WRF model for simulating heavy precipitation in Alberta

The Kain-Fritsch and explicit cumulus parameterization schemes were found to be the most accurate when simulating precipitation across three summer events. The model simulations using the Kain-Fritsch scheme often overestimated precipitation, resulting in higher Probability of Detection values. Combined with low False Alarm Ratio values, this typically yielded the highest Equitable Threat scores. Greater precipitation accuracy was generally observed when the horizontal resolution of the model was increased to 6 km. Model simulations performed without using a cumulus parameterization scheme (i.e. explicit precipitation only) performed with similar accuracy as simulations using a cumulus parameterization scheme at 6 km resolution.