In this study we adapted WRF-Hydro to the Cape Fear River basin (CFRB)
to assess its performance during Hurricane Florence (2018). The model
was first calibrated with a strategy of mixture of automatic and manual
calibration during Florence and then evaluated with an independent
hurricane event. With satisfactory NSE values (>0.4)
achieved at all gages for hourly simulation, the model demonstrates its
potential in simulating the flood response at both basin and sub-basin
scale during hurricane events. The model’s capability in reproducing
rainfall and properly translating it to hydrological response was
further evaluated. The analysis suggests that the calibrated WRF-Hydro
in combination with a series of WRF simulation using different
microphysics schemes can provide reasonable flood simulations. The model
reproduced peak streamflow observed at gage stations with acceptable
errors in timing and amplitude. Meanwhile, positive(negative) bias in
rainfall input is likely to be amplified (reduced) in streamflow
forecast when simulated rainfall volume is larger than the “model
true”. And the timing bias mostly inherited from rainfall simulation
and calibration process.
Low-Flow Characteristics and Discharge Profiles for Selected Streams in the Cape Fear River Basin, North Carolina, Through 1998
