Assessing the controlling factors on watershed soil erosion during intense rainstorm events using radar rainfall and process-based modeling

•High spatiotemporal resolution radar rainfall was integrated with erosion models.•Watershed-scale erosion rates under intense rainstorms were evaluated.•Topographic slope and rainfall spatial distribution determine erosion hotspots.•Hillslope erosion is sensitive to maximal rain intensities of durations <30 min.•Croplands are highly sensitive to changes in maximal rainfall intensities.