International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage Commission Interationale des Irrigation et du Drainage



(7924) Flood forecasting
1 - Prediction of the characteristics of an imminent future flood (timing, depth, discharge, etc.) given current information. The prediction of flood events on the basis of analysis of essential meteorologic data, such as storm trends, antecedent precipitation, air moisture, temperature trends, wind etc. Analysis of such information in relation to known stream response behaviour and basin characteristics can provide the basis for issue of flood warnings. The rapidity of data accumulation and analysis, and of dissemination of resulting warnings, is vital to the effectiveness of flood forecasting. 2 - The science of forecasting the stage, discharge, time of occurrence, and duration of a flood, especially of peak discharge at a specified point on a stream, resulting from precipitation and/or snowmelt and based on the existing meteorological and hydrologic conditions. The goal of flood forecasting is to obtain real-time precipitation and stream flow data through a microwave, radio, or satellite communications network, insert the data into rainfall-runoff and stream flow routing programs, and forecast flood flow rates and water levels for periods of from a few hours to a few days ahead, depending on the size of the watershed.

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