The minute-resolution precipitation data of 123 national meteorological observing stations in Shandong from 1972 to 2024 are used to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of the maximum sliding hourly precipitation in Shandong from April to October, and it is compared with the traditional maximum hourly precipitation at the top of the hour. The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of short-term heavy precipitation events of different intensities (R≥20 mm, R≥50 mm) identified based on sliding hourly precipitation are discussed. The results are as follows. The maximum sliding hourly precipitation in Shandong ranges from 65.2 mm to 147.1 mm, with high-value areas mainly distributed in northwestern Shandong, southern Shandong and the southern coastal areas of the Shandong Peninsula. Compared with the hourly precipitation at the top of the hour, the sliding hourly precipitation is more accurate in characterizing the intensities and the maximum values of precipitation processes. Jinan, Tai’an, northwestern Shandong and southern Shandong are high-frequency areas for general short-term heavy precipitation and 50-mm short-term heavy precipitation. The diurnal variation of the general short-term heavy precipitation in Shandong generally presents a bimodal distribution, but there are differences among different regions. Northwestern Shandong and central Shandong show a unimodal distribution with the peak occurring around dusk; the Shandong Peninsula presents a bimodal distribution with the main peak occurring in the early morning and the secondary peak occurring around dusk; the short-term heavy precipitation is prone to occur in southern Shandong from afternoon until dawn. The diurnal variation of the 50-mm short-term heavy precipitation generally shows a unimodal distribution, where the diurnal variation patterns in northwestern Shandong, central Shandong and the Shandong Peninsula are consistent with those of the general short-term heavy precipitation, while the diurnal variation in southern Shandong exhibits a bimodal distribution.