Category Archives: Hydrometeorology
Decision making in times of uncertainty: the forecaster
In a two-part feature, we cover various roles involved in decision making at times of uncertainty. The first is provided by Paul Ryles, Senior Scientist and operational flood forecaster at SEPA. “Flood prediction is a science, especially in challenging situations such … Continue reading
Flood forecasting: current challenges and future aspirations
How can flood forecasting best rise to the challenges and opportunities that communities and partners face; at what point does effort in flood forecasting become less effective than local adaptation; and what are the aspirations and capability of our future … Continue reading
The July Perthshire floods: hydrometeorological predictions
A major clean-up operation is underway following flooding that affected some Perthshire communities on the 17th July 2015. Villages such as Bankfoot were affected and surface water flooding was seen across much of the road network; however the flooding impacts were most … Continue reading
Natural hazards: prediction and early warning on various scales
The 2015 General Assembly of the European Geoscience Union provided an opportunity to share challenges and innovation in the prediction and early warning of natural hazards. Although flooding was a key topic area, other hazards featured which all have synergies across the … Continue reading
Hydrometeorological forecasting and ex-tropical storm Bertha
On Monday 11th August, the remnants of the ex-tropical storm Bertha brought heavy and very intense rain for many parts of northern Scotland. Early indications are that over 100 mm of rain was recorded over a 12 to 16 hour … Continue reading
Engaging with hydrometeorology across Europe
In the SFFS we have 12 operational flood forecasting hydrologists working on a rota system as well as meteorologists on shift at the Met Office. Similar numbers of people are working in most countries across Europe and worldwide. Combine this … Continue reading
Behind the flood guidance: a meteorologist’s perspective
Peter Sloss, one of the Met Office forecasters involved in the flood forecasting service, provides in inside view of the developing hydrometeorological service capabilities. “Weather forecasting and more specifically rainfall forecasting was so much simpler way back then, even going … Continue reading
Mountain Hydrometeorology
Mountain weather can be highly variable in space and time and is often extreme, with implications for recreation, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and ecosystems. A national meeting of the Royal Meteorological Society is being held on Saturday 28 June and Sunday … Continue reading
Coupling meteorological and hydrological forecasting models: the Canadian case
In June 2013 the city of Calgary and state of Alberta witnessed devastating flooding with four fatalities and over 100,000 people evacuated from their homes. It’s difficult to comprehend flooding on this scale in Scotland but comparing this to the … Continue reading
Scottish Flood Forecasting Service 