The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and the Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE) are now the most widely used indices in hydrology for evaluation of the goodness of fit between model simulations S and observations O. We introduce two theoretical (probabilistic) definitions of efficiency, E and E′, based on the estimators NSE and KGE, respectively, which enable controlled Monte Carlo experiments at 447 watersheds to evaluate their performance. Although NSE is generally unbiased, it exhibits enormous variability from one sample to another, due to the remarkable skewness and periodicity of daily streamflow data. However, use of NSE with logarithms of daily streamflow leads to estimates of E with almost no variability from one sample to the next, though with high upward bias. We introduce improved estimators of E and E′ based on a bivariate lognormal monthly mixture model that are shown to yield considerable improvements over NSE and slight improvements over KGE in controlled Monte Carlo experiments. Our new estimators of E should avoid most previous criticisms of NSE implied by the literature. Improved estimators of E that account for skewness and periodicity are needed for daily and subdaily streamflow series because NSE is not suited to such applications. Plain Language Summary Reliable metrics are needed, which summarize the degree to which simulation model output reproduces the observations. Two of the most widely used metrics are Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and the Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE). Remarkably, this is the first study to provide a theoretical definition and treatment of these indices enabling controlled Monte Carlo experiments to evaluate their performance. Controlled experiments at 447 U.S. watersheds enable us to report the degree of bias and variability associated with these indices when applied to daily data. As expected, NSE is on average, equal to its theoretical value; thus, it provides an unbiased estimate of its theoretical value. However, NSE exhibits enormous variability from one sample to another due to the enormous skewness and periodicity of daily streamflows. Improved estimators are introduced, which account for skewness and periodicity of daily streamflow observations. Our improved estimators yield considerable improvements over NSE and slight improvements over KGE and are shown to avoid most previous criticisms of NSE implied by the literature. Simulation models are increasingly being used to mimic high frequency observations, which exhibit highly skewed and periodic behavior. In such instances, improved estimators of efficiency are needed because NSE is no longer suited to such applications. 1.1. Model Simulation and Calibration Consider the problem of evaluating the goodness of fit of watershed simulation model output S, to observations O. Let S t and O t represent the simulated and observed daily streamflow on day t, t ¼ 1, …, n, at the outlet of a watershed. A conceptual simulation model H[X, Ω] is envisioned, which converts a suite of model parameters Ω and inputs X t , such as rai...