As flood risk spreads, prediction tech proves vital — GCN
As bad as the flooding in the Midwest following the bomb cyclone and snow melt runoff has been, it’s about to get worse. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s U.S. Spring Outlook, issued March 21, nearly two-thirds of the Lower 48 states face an elevated risk for flooding through May, with the potential for major or moderate flooding in 25 states.
For a longer forecast, NOAA – along with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers – offers decision-support services through the “Long Range River Flood Risk” web page. The information is refreshed monthly and based on historical precipitation data, current soil moisture and hydrologic models. It shows the locations of over 2,600 stream gauges and indicates the likelihood of flooding.