European Flood Awareness System (EFAS)

The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) forecasts and monitors floods across Europe. It provides complementary, flood early warning information up to 10 days in advance based on hydrological and meteorological observations and forecasts.

Description & Technical Information

Description

The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) forms part of the Copernicus Emergency Management System. The EFAS system generates hydrological forecasts by cascading an ensemble of meteorological forecasts from different providers through a deterministic pan-European hydrological model. Initial conditions for the forecast are derived from observed hydro-meteorological data.

From the hydrological and meteorological forecasts a number of forecast products are produced to highlight the potential hazard of flash or riverine flooding and the associated risk in the medium range (2-10 days)

Technical information

Category
References Smith P., F. Pappenberger, F. Wetterhall, J. Thielen, B. Krzeminski, P. Salamon, D. Muraro, M. Kalas, C. Baugh, 2016:On the operational implementation of the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS). ECMWF Technical Memoranda 778.
External link https://www.ecmwf.int/sites/default/files/elibrary/2016/16337-operational-implementation-european-flood-awareness-system-efas.pdf
References (2) Thielen, J., J. Bartholmes, M.-H. Ramos, A. de Roo, 2009: The European Flood Alert System – Part 1: Concept and development, Hydrol. Earth System Sci, 13, 125-140.
Developer ECMWF, JRC
External link (2) https://www.efas.eu/
Development Stage TRL=9

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