1. WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather, Climate and Water INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON FLASH FLOOD FORECASTING OVERVIEW OF THE FLOOD-RELATED PROGRAMMES OF WMO Bruce Stewart President of CHy

2. CONTENT • Role of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources • Objectives of WMO in Hydrology and Water Resources • Flood-related Activities • Other WMO Programmes • Conclusions

3. ROLE OF WMO IN HWR • Safety of life and property • Information and knowledge in support of Integrated Water Resources Management • Capacity building • Support for knowledge based operations and policies • Promotion of risk management approach

4. OBJECTIVE OF WMO IN HWR To apply hydrology to: • meet the needs for sustainable development and use of water and related resources; • the prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters; and • ensure effective environmental management at national, regional and international levels.

5. FOCUS OF WMO IN HWR • The measurement of basic hydrological elements form networks of hydrological and meteorological stations • The collection, processing, storage, retrieval and publication of hydrological data • The provision of hydrological data and related information for use in planning and operating water resources projects and monitoring the status of water resources • The provision of effective flood forecasting and warning services

6. COMPONENTS OF THE HWRP • Basic Systems in Hydrology • Forecasting and Applications in Hydrology • Sustainable Development of Water Resources • Capacity Building in Hydrology and Water Resources • Water-related Issues

7. FLOOD-RELATED ACTIVITIES • What do we mean by Flood-related activities?

8. Protective Response Communication Message Construction Review after event Feedback during event Interpretation Prediction Total Flood Warning System

9. FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES • Prediction - Measurement of rainfall - Measurement of river height (WHYCOS) - Derivation of streamflow - QPE and QPF - Hydrological Modelling

10. FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES • Interpretation - Flood hazard mapping - Hydraulic modelling - ??? • Message construction - ???

11. FLOOD RELATED-ACTIVITIES (Ctd.) • Communication - Collection systems - Dissemination systems - Web-based information - ??? • Protective response - Design rainfall/flood information - Awareness raising - ???

12. SPECIFIC INITIATIVES • Standards and Practices • Automated rating curve derivation • Streamflow Gauging Manual • Intercomparison Project – Instruments, Transmission Systems • Guide to Hydrological Practices • WHYCOS – HYCOS

13. SPECIFIC INITIATIVES (Ctd.) • Flood Design Manual • PMP Manual • Flood Forecasting Manual • WMO Flood Initiative • International Flood Initiative • Global Flood Forecasting Project

14. GLOBAL/REGIONAL SHORT-TERM HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTING SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS • The tools should be tested in different river basins (in particular, in an arid/semi-arid region); • Preference should be given to river basins that are multi-national; • The role of the NHSs and other stakeholders must be recognised and maintained • The involvement of relevant WMO Regional Association Working Groups on Hydrology should be sought; and • Possible river basins include: the Limpopo, Lake Victoria, a river basin in West Africa, the Mekong, Central America, the Niger and the Oka.

15. GLOBAL/REGIONAL SHORT-TERM HYDROLOGICAL FORECASTING SYSTEM STEPS/STAGES • A compilation of the approaches (QPE, QPF, etc); • A study identifying in greater detail the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches; • A comparative testing of targeted elements of the forecast capability; • Development of a prototypical composite system or systems; and • Preparation of project packages for funding (including a needs assessment).

16. Modelling • Spatially distributed, event-based • National system - scaleable • Hydromet Inputs • Quantitative radar rain • NWP, QPF • Web Products • Maps and data bulletins • Updated hourly – daily RECENT DIRECTIONS

17. Single Most Important Action? • Community education, engagement & awareness – participation, empowerment, ownership. People should be made aware of their personal risk • Improved agency coordination – national consistency/national agency, improved agency coordination framework • Better risk communication – incl. use of technology, radio/media accessibility

18. CONCLUDING REMARKS • WMO is doing a lot in its areas of expertise • Where should we target future initiatives? • Any flood forecasting system is only as strong as its weakest link – how do we involve all of the stakeholders? • Stress the need for greater collaboration between NHSs and NMSs in flood forecasting • Look forward to the presentations and discussions from this week to futher define and refine the HWR work plan