To print: Click here or Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

This story was printed from silicon.com, located at http://www.silicon.com/

Story URL: http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39246127,00.htm

Forecasting tech blows away stormy weather
Met Office tackles extreme rainfall

By Nick Heath

Published: Friday 13 June 2008

The UK will be better protected against devastating downpours similar to those that led to £3bn-worth of flooding last summer thanks to advances in weather forecasting technology.

The Met Office has expanded its forecasting system to predict severe rainfall a day earlier and more precisely pinpoint where and when such storms will occur.

Sir Michael Pitt's interim report into the summer floods called for feasibility studies into these types of forecasting models to improve the UK's ability to anticipate such events.

The Met Office is also assembling a team of specialist forecasters who will use the latest technology to provide early warning and risk assessment to flood forecasters, emergency responders and those responsible for critical national infrastructure.

Paul Davies, Met Office extreme rainfall service manager, said in a statement: "The events of last summer have focused the attention of all agencies involved in severe weather and flood forecasting and the Met Office has accelerated the delivery of its science and technology capabilities in order to meet the challenges ahead."

The improved forecasting models include the Short Term Ensemble Prediction System - which uses radar data to predict the location of extreme rainfall several hours before it occurs, the Met Office Global and Regional Ensemble Prediction System and the Storm Scale model.

In March the Met Office announced a traffic light system for warnings issued by its Public Weather Service to better inform emergency services of potential disruption by severe weather.