Bhutan Subnational Rainfall: Dekadal Indicators and CHIRPS Forecasts

Bhutan subnational rainfall data provided by the World Food Programme features dekadal indicators derived from CHIRPS satellite imagery and GEFS forecasts. The dataset tracks 10-day, 1-month, and 3-month precipitation metrics alongside long-term averages and anomalies for administrative units. It is updated six times per month to transition from short-term forecasts to final observations, with records extending through March 2026.

Use Cases

• Drought monitoring using the rfq and r3q anomaly columns to detect precipitation deficits
• Agricultural yield forecasting by comparing current rfh against long-term rfh_avg
• Climate modeling using the type column to filter for final validated observations versus preliminary forecasts

Strengths

• Includes 9 distinct rainfall indicators including rolling aggregations and anomalies
• Uses standardized WFP Pcode references for subnational administrative units
• Provides data quality metadata via the n_pixels column indicating satellite input density

Limitations

• Satellite-derived CHIRPS estimates may deviate from local station data in complex Himalayan topography
• Frequent data overwrites as forecasts transition to preliminary and final products require careful version management

Provenance

Source

World Food Programme (WFP) via CHIRPS and CHIRPS-GEFS

Collection Method

Satellite imagery (CHIRPS v2) and station data aggregation

Freshness

Updated six times per month following a specific publication cycle on the 1st, 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 26th.

Geography

Bhutan