Continued growth of urban regions and more stringent water quality regulations have resulted in an increased need for more real-time information about past, present, and future patterns and intensities of precipitation. Detailed, real-time information about precipitation can be obtained using radar and raingages for monitoring and prediction of precipitation amounts. The philosophy and the requirements for the development of real-time radar prediction-monitoring systems are described for climatic region similar to the Midwest of the united States. General data analysis and interpretation techniques associated with rainfall from convective storm systems are presented.