Post on 18-Dec-2015
Better Defining the Flood ThreatFlood Inundation Mapping from the
National Weather Service
2009 Severe Storms and Hydrology Conference2009 Severe Storms and Hydrology ConferenceShreveport, LAShreveport, LA
Gregory P. SheltonGregory P. SheltonNWS/West Gulf River Forecast CenterNWS/West Gulf River Forecast Center
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Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service
State of the science State of the science forecastingforecasting Short and long term Short and long term
probabilistic forecastsprobabilistic forecasts Water supply forecastsWater supply forecasts Inundation mappingInundation mapping
Innovation at all timescalesInnovation at all timescales Flash flood modelingFlash flood modeling Distributed modelingDistributed modeling Ensemble modelingEnsemble modeling
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Goals of AHPS Provide emergency and water resource
managers information … To make informed risk-based decisions To optimize the use of resources
Better meet the hydrologic needs of the country …
Plan with confidence and efficiency Stay out of harms way Provide valuable water supply information
Enable the NWS to increase forecast skill and warning lead time
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http://water.weather.govhttp://water.weather.gov
Access to most NWS forecasts and data
One internet address…
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Rainfall - PastRainfall - PastNational Image is composed
of Best Estimate QPE from the 12 CONUS RFCs
Image can be downloaded in Shapefile or NetCDF format
Various time spans are available from 24 hours to a
year
Durations beyond 1 day also have Normal, Departure from
Normal, and Percent of Normal
Click on map to zoom into states or select WFOs from list
Toggles at bottom feature various geographic overlays
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http://water.weather.govhttp://water.weather.gov
Access to most NWS forecasts and data
One internet address…
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INUNDATION MAPPINGBetter Defining the River Flood ThreatBetter Defining the River Flood Threat
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Customer InputFamiliarity with NWS flood severity Familiarity with NWS flood severity
categoriescategoriesUtility of existing flood severity categoriesUtility of existing flood severity categoriesRetain existing flood severity categoriesRetain existing flood severity categoriesEnhance communication of flood risk by Enhance communication of flood risk by
use of use of inundation graphics (maps)inundation graphics (maps)
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Graphical Flood Impact Information
Partnered with NC Floodplain Mapping Program Office, FEMA, and USGS Partnered with NC Floodplain Mapping Program Office, FEMA, and USGS to develop user-requested graphics to better convey flood threatto develop user-requested graphics to better convey flood threat
Neuse River at Neuse River at Goldsboro, NCGoldsboro, NC
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Initial Steps
Used partnered data (LIDAR Used partnered data (LIDAR Topo Engineering Data) from Topo Engineering Data) from FEMA and NC Floodplain FEMA and NC Floodplain Mapping ProgramMapping Program
Built unsteady hydraulic model Built unsteady hydraulic model for 73 miles of Tar Riverfor 73 miles of Tar River
Mapped flood forecasts in a GIS Mapped flood forecasts in a GIS and presented results in easy to and presented results in easy to read format over the Web. (Text read format over the Web. (Text To Graphics)To Graphics)
Used operationally by SERFC as Used operationally by SERFC as flood forecast tool during flood forecast tool during Hurricane Isabel – Sept. 2003Hurricane Isabel – Sept. 2003
Tar River Basin, NC
Goal – To provide Web based flood inundation maps from the NWS operational forecast environment to emergency managers during flood events.
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Static Libraries
Predefined river stage levels and associated NAVD88 elevation. Yellow highlight indicates current level displayed.
“Standard” and “Detailed” image options
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Inundation Mapping Process Obtain and QC Base DataObtain and QC Base Data
LIDAR, Topography, Aerial photography, Rating LIDAR, Topography, Aerial photography, Rating curves, Engineering data (preferably completed curves, Engineering data (preferably completed FIS)FIS)
Close collaboration with partners and customersClose collaboration with partners and customers FEMA, River Authorities, USGS, Local EMsFEMA, River Authorities, USGS, Local EMs
Develop Flood ProfilesDevelop Flood Profiles Determine boundaries for hydraulic modeling of Determine boundaries for hydraulic modeling of
reachreach Determine mapping intervals (1 ft, 2 ft, 4ft, etc.)Determine mapping intervals (1 ft, 2 ft, 4ft, etc.) Develop flows that match rating curve stage for Develop flows that match rating curve stage for
the mapping intervals the mapping intervals Export profiles to GIS for predetermined levelsExport profiles to GIS for predetermined levels Datum consistency!!Datum consistency!!
Develop/Deploy Public Mapping LibrariesDevelop/Deploy Public Mapping Libraries QA/QC by NWS staff QA/QC by NWS staff Flood depth grids and Inundation polygons Flood depth grids and Inundation polygons
delivered to contractor for development of web delivered to contractor for development of web deliverablesdeliverables
Final product pushed to AHPS web pagesFinal product pushed to AHPS web pages
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QA/QC ProcessActual Location
This is Harvard Street
This is Heights Boulevard
Move Gage
Check GeoDataCheck GeoData Lat/Lon at gage locationLat/Lon at gage location Stream centerlineStream centerline RoadsRoads
Check for non-contiguous Check for non-contiguous inundation areasinundation areas
Check for correct reference Check for correct reference datadata Flood categoriesFlood categories Impacts statementsImpacts statements Historical crestsHistorical crests Non-Contiguous Areas
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Available Products Map typesMap types
Predefined LevelsPredefined Levels Flood CategoriesFlood Categories Current ForecastCurrent Forecast
OverlaysOverlays Street mapsStreet maps Aerial photosAerial photos
Map ToolsMap Tools ZoomZoom Mouse over for water depthMouse over for water depth Export Export to to multiple formats multiple formats
(including shapefiles)(including shapefiles)
Current forecast Current forecast zoomed to forecast zoomed to forecast pointpoint
Flood categories Flood categories zoomed to nearby zoomed to nearby neighborhoodneighborhood
Full map with aerial Full map with aerial photo and predefined photo and predefined height displayedheight displayed
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Inundation Mapping for Texas
Most locations currently Most locations currently available available
All available by end of 2009All available by end of 2009 Partnerships with local Partnerships with local
governments and river governments and river authoritiesauthorities
Additional locations also Additional locations also possiblepossible
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Example – Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd Drive
Predefined river stage levels and associated NAVD88 elevation. Yellow highlight indicates current level displayed.
“Standard” and “Detailed” image options
Depth of water analysis available with Detailed Image
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Example – Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd Drive
Flood Categories available as overlays
100 & 500 Year Floodplains and Floodway Data available as overlays
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Example – Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point
Current Forecast:60.3 FT at 18 UTC on 4/28/09Current Forecast:56.6 FT at 00 UTC on 4/29/09
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Hurricane Ike
Sequoia Estates: 56.3 59 S bound feeder: 55.2
N side channel: 54.9
Greens Bayou at U.S Hwy 59 – Crest 58.4 feet
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IBWC Partnership Goal: Implement FIM on the Rio GrandeGoal: Implement FIM on the Rio Grande
WMO Voluntary Cooperation ProgramWMO Voluntary Cooperation Program Seeking funding to cover implementationSeeking funding to cover implementation Worked with IBWC to develop grant proposalWorked with IBWC to develop grant proposal Utilize existing base data and modeling from IBWC Utilize existing base data and modeling from IBWC Approval delayed and project merged with larger Approval delayed and project merged with larger
bi-national negotiationsbi-national negotiations IBWC completed primary modeling work between IBWC completed primary modeling work between
Amistad and Falcon ReservoirsAmistad and Falcon Reservoirs Partnering to perform QC of polygonsPartnering to perform QC of polygons Seeking new funding sources to cover implementation Seeking new funding sources to cover implementation
• State of TexasState of Texas
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Potential Mapping LocationsEl Paso
Presidio
Rio Grande City
San Benito Brownsville
Del Rio
Eagle Pass
Laredo
Columbia Bridge
Mapping nearing completion
Future potential mapping locations
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Questions/Comments?
Contact Info:Contact Info:Gregory P. Shelton, Service Coordination HydrologistGregory P. Shelton, Service Coordination Hydrologist
West Gulf River Forecast CenterWest Gulf River Forecast Center
greg.shelton@noaa.gov
(817) 831-3289 x219(817) 831-3289 x219