Flash flood guidance system includes snow hydrology

Climate change has accentuated natural hazards, including flash floods caused by melting of snow and ice in many regions of the world.

The Himalayas, which are the third largest deposit of ice and snow in the world after Antarctica and the Arctic, are heavily impacted.  This was highlighted by a disaster in February in Uttarakhand in the Indian Himalayas, after a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off and collapsed causing a massive flood in the Rishi Ganga /Dhauliganga river. This destroyed two hydropower plants, burst open dams, and led to a large number of casualties and widespread environmental damage in an ecologically fragile area.

In response to the growing hazards, a Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) snow hydrology webinar was organized by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Hydrologic Research Center (HRC) and India Meteorological Department (IMD) to discuss the importance for tracking the seasonal snow pack conditions as it pertains to the assessment of flash flood occurrence.

In his opening speech, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of IMD and Permanent Representative of India with WMO, emphasized the importance of the FFGS and prediction of snow melting in a timely manner. Dr. Mohapatra appreciated the contributions of WMO, HRC, Regional Centre and all the member nations for successful implementation and operationalization of the SAsiaFFGS in South Asia.

The IMD acts as the Regional Centre for the South Asia FFGS, covering Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, providing the nation’s nearly 1.6 billion people with effective flash flood guidance and forecasts. It also provides Member countries with regional daily flash flood guidance and continuous training of operational forecasters.

During the webinar, available FFGS snow components and products were presented, alongside case studies from various regions to demonstrate the utilization and validation of snow products. It highlighted the importance of tracking the seasonal snow condition as it pertains to the assessment of flash flood occurrence.

This webinar provided the opportunity for participants to share their experiences, ask questions, determine any challenges and to provide training to further understanding of FFGS snow products and use in the operational work. In addition to South Asian countries, participants from the South East Europe region attended the event, reflecting the high level of interest.

Both regional South Asia and Southeast Europe FFGS are funded by the United States Agency for International Development/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA) and implemented by the WMO and the Hydrologic Research Center (HRC), while National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a satellite data provider into the System.