Abstract:A comparative analysis between satelliteretrieved products and AWS data is conducted. The results show that cloud top height, cloud top temperature, cold layer thickness, and cloud optical thickness were insensitive to precipitation, and cloud particle effective radius and cloud liquid water path in this precipitation process are highly indicative of precipitation, especially the liquid water path. The changes of the two cloud parameters occur 30 minutes to 1 hour ahead of surface precipitation. There is a positive correlation between the two cloud parameters and surface precipitation. The areas with the cloud liquid water greater than 400 g/m-2 and the effective radius of cloud particles greater than 27 μm are in agreement with the large rainfall centers. To understand the evolution of cloud parameters can help monitor and identify the conditions and seedable areas for largescale weather modification operations.