The suitability assessment of a generalized exponential distribution for the description of maximum precipitation amounts

•We determined precipitation amounts for 16 intervals of durations.•Measurement data was depicted by generalized exponential distribution.•The parameter estimates were determined by maximization of likelihood functions.•The Anderson-Darling test was carried out.•The best of the distributions were determined using a BIC and RRMSE.

SummaryThe paper is a methodological extension of the current description of maximum precipitation amounts on the basis of gamma, Gumbel, lognormal or Weibull distribution to newly developed theoretical distributions, namely, the two-(GED2) and three-parameter (GED3) generalized exponential distribution. The verification is carried out on the basis of meteorological data from the Wroclaw-Strachowice meteorological station of the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management from years 1960-2009.