Analysis of heavy rainfall events occurred in Italy by using numerical weather prediction, microwave and infrared technique

The extraordinary rainfall event that affected the center of Italy on 9 th and 10 th September 2017 was studied by examining the synoptic analysis, radar network and rain gauges' measurements. The main precipitation event took place in the area around Livorno, where more than 200 mm of precipitation was recorded in 24 hours. The case study is analyzed using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and two algorithms based on satellite observations: the Rain Class Evaluation from Infrared and Visible observation (RainCEIV) technique and the cloud Classification Mask Coupling of Statistical and Physics Methods (C-MACSP). The analysis shows that WRF is able to forecast the event, though with errors in actual structure, location, and time. For this reason, the combined use of different observational tools could support the WRF simulation to provide a better characterization of the event.