Indikátor přívalových povodní – zkušenosti z provozu

Abstract

Flash floods are one of the most risky natural phenomena. It is very difficult to predict exactly where they will occur and they usually come very quickly. When there is a threat of flash floods, early warning is exactly what decides on the protection of the lives and property of inhabitants. For these reasons, a Flash Flood Indicator (FFI) has being developed in the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHMI) for a long time, aiming to draw attention to the possibility of a flash flood or local flooding. The main purpose of this contribution is not to describe details of FFI algorithms, but to evaluate the functioning of the FFI on the basis of more than ten years of operation experience. On a basis of specific cases of significant rainfall episodes, especially from recent years, the potential benefits of FFI are shown, not only for the operational forecasting service of the CHMI, but also for wider public. At the end of the contribution, the possibilities of further development of FFI are outlined.