Assessment of the possibility of using rainfall data from private meteorological stations for selected rain episodes in Wrocław

Abstract

The article evaluates the feasibility of using rainfall data from Personal Weather Stations (PWS) to monitor selected rain episodes in Wrocław. PWS are gaining popularity due to their easy accessibility and low cost, enabling the monitoring of atmospheric parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall, and wind speed and direction. The study involved the analysis of data from 32 PWS located in Wrocław and its surroundings, which were then compared with data from professional meteorological stations of IMGW-PIB and the MPWiK network in Wrocław. The results showed that PWS data can be useful in monitoring heavy rainfall, which may lead to local flooding, provided the stations are properly placed and the data are verified. The greatest challenge associated with PWS is the risk of incorrect placement, which can affect measurement accuracy. Therefore, systematic verification and interpretation of the collected data are necessary for their use in practical applications, such as urban hydrology.