Example of MODE output. The raw precipitation fields from the QPF (upper left) and QPE (upper right) were used to identify precipitation objects. Objects of the same color (green, red, cyan) are matched together between the forecasted and observed precipitation. Blue objects are unmatched between the two. In addition to hits, misses, and false alarms, these objects are used to compare features such as centroid location, object size, and object orientation.

The Method for Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation (MODE) tool provides an objective comparison of the overall structure of the forecasted precipitation with what was observed.  Rather than evaluating hits and misses at a point/neighborhood as is done with the contingency table, object-based evaluation identifies precipitation objects and compares attributes of matched forecast and observed objects.  The attributes considered include area coverage, centroid displacement, intensity, and overlap.