 1. Current global precipitation data sets do not fully utilize the complementary nature of satellite and re-analysis data. 2. We present multi-source weighted ensemble precipitation, MSWEP, version 1.1, a global precipitation data set for the period 1979 to 2015 with a 3-hourly temporal and 0.25 degrees spatial resolution specifically designed for hydrological modeling. 3. The design philosophy of MSWEP was to optimally merge the highest quality precipitation data sources available as a function of time scale and location. 4. The long-term mean of MSWEP was based on the CH-CLIM data set but replaced with more accurate regional data sets were available. 5. A correction for gauge undercatch and orographic effects was introduced by inferring catchment average precipitation from stream flow observations at 136 stations across the globe. 6. The temporal variability of MSWEP. This article was authored by H. E. Beck, A. I. J. M. Van Dyke, V. Levizzani, and others. We're article.tv, links in the description below.