Weather: University of Freiburg develops flash flood index

Weather
University of Freiburg develops flash flood index

According to experts, flash floods are difficult to predict because many factors are crucial. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa

According to experts, flash floods are difficult to predict because many factors are involved. Photo

© Silas Stein/dpa

Warn people not only about heavy rain and flooding, but also about flash floods. A research team has now developed an index for this purpose.

The University of Freiburg has developed a flash flood index (SFI) with the participation of other institutions. This should make floods easier to predict, the university announced. “The SFI offers significant added value compared to mere heavy rain warnings,” said Markus Weiler, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Freiburg, who coordinates the project.

The forecasts will be used to warn residents of affected areas in good time in the future. In the long term, the index will help to prepare for and reduce local risks through to reduce flash floods. “In order to advance its use, we are already in close contact with several state authorities.”

Flash floods are difficult to predict because many factors are crucial, the university said. Among other things, it depends on whether surfaces are sealed or the ground is already wet or saturated. Such local conditions are therefore included in the calculations.

At the beginning of June, storms caused heavy rainfall and flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Several people died, thousands had to be evacuated, and there were landslides and dam collapses.

dpa

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