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Weather Prediction Center
College Park, MD

WPC Verification -- Threat Score and Bias Computation


Note:

For the computations that follow, the units of "Forecast", "Observed", and "Correct" for a specified precipitation threshold amount are in square kilometers for 24-hourly forecasts and number of stations for 6-hourly forecasts.


Threat Score (TS): The formula for computing the TS is

Correct / (Forecast + Observed - Correct)

For a perfect forecast, Correct = Forecast = Observed to yield a TS of 1. The worst possible forecast, with Correct = 0, yields a TS of zero.

Examples:



Bias: The basic formula for computing the Bias is

Forecast / Observed

This quantity gauges the accuracy of areal/station coverage of a specified precipitation threshold amount, regardless of accuracy in location. An ideal forecast would have Forecast = Observed to yield a Bias of 1.

Examples:

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Last Modified June 7, 2001