Dual-polarization weather radar data system and method

A method for generating an actual precipitation accumulation comprising the steps:

• generating a horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and a vertical polarized radio wave pulse;
• transmitting said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said vertical polarized radio wave pulse toward a precipitation event;
• receiving returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
• measuring the power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
• comparing said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event;
• generating a first mask from said comparing of said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event at a first time period;
• generating a second mask from said comparing of said power of said returned said horizontal polarized radio wave pulse and said power of said returned said vertical polarized radio wave pulse from said precipitation event at a second time period;
• comparing a difference between said first mask at said first time period and said second mask from said second time period;
• and
• generating an estimated precipitation accumulation using said difference between said first mask at said first time period and said second mask from said second time period.