Flood Forecasting

Working in partnership to help monitor and prepare for flood risks

The Met Office provides a range of services that help authorities prepare for and respond to emergencies that are caused or influenced by the weather.

Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC)

The FFC is a partnership between the Met Office and the Environment Agency combining our meteorology and hydrology expertise to forecast for river, tidal and coastal flooding as well as extreme rainfall which may lead to surface water flooding.

Flood Forecasting Centre

Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (SFFS)

The Met Office and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are working in partnership to predict the timing and likelihood of flooding for Category 1 or 2 responders in Scotland.

Scottish Flood Forecasting Service

Natural Resources Wales (NRW)

The Met Office and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are working in partnership to monitor rainfall, river levels and sea conditions to forecast the possibility of flooding in Wales.

Natural Resources Wales

UK Coastal Monitoring and Forecasting (UKCMF) service

The Met Office provides advice on the effects weather may have on sea level and wave action. This is funded as part of the UKCMF by the Environment Agency to help them assess flood risk and allowing them to issue timely warnings of coastal flooding to those who may be impacted.

The service:

  • operates a network of automated tide gauges for vital real-time data;

  • is responsive and efficient with 24-hour coverage;

  • provides a negative surge warning service for shipping.

UKCMF is a collaboration of public bodies working together to provide a comprehensive Coastal Monitoring and Forecasting service for the UK. Partners in the UKCMF service;

CEFAS WaveNet

NOC National Tidal and Sea Level Facility

For more information about our services for Government, please email us.

Flood Forecasting. Flood forecasting partnerships: The average rainfall in the UK increased from 1084mm during the period 1961-1990 to 1163mm during 1991-2020. The Met Office partners with environmental agencies across the UK to assess rainfall and flood risks, providing guidance to emergency services and the public. Impact: Using a combination of environmental data and hydrological monitoring, with the Met Office's expertise, these partnerships forecast the ongoing extent, likelihood and severity of flooding at a local and national scale. This vital work strengthens UK resilience by protecting critical infrastructure and supports a wide variety of organisations such as Category 1 and 2 responders giving crucial information to the emergency services. Breadth of our support: A 5-day ahead forecast flood guidance statement is delivered to almost 6000 email addresses daily across England, Scotland and Wales, helping responders to manage and optimise their services to where they are needed the most.