1 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,369 >> Flash floods create significant hazards for people... and their property. 2 00:00:16,369 --> 00:00:20,660 The rising water levels are typically a result of intense rainfall. 3 00:00:20,660 --> 00:00:22,222 Predicting flash floods can be a challenge. 4 00:00:22,222 --> 00:00:26,910 It's a local threat... that happens in a short amount of time. 5 00:00:26,910 --> 00:00:31,130 >> Flash flooding is difficult to forecast because we don't have rain gauges everywhere 6 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:36,799 and the terrain where the rainfall does fall is very varied from one place to another. 7 00:00:36,799 --> 00:00:40,830 >> As people are building things, as rivers change and evolve, flooding impacts can be 8 00:00:40,830 --> 00:00:45,609 different with the same exact rainfall from year to year and from decade to decade. 9 00:00:45,609 --> 00:00:51,670 >> Researchers at NOAA's National Severe Storms Lab are revolutionizing the tools forecasters 10 00:00:51,670 --> 00:00:53,710 have at their fingertips. 11 00:00:53,710 --> 00:01:00,020 The Flooded Locations And Simulated Hydrographs Project - or FLASH - combines real-time rainfall 12 00:01:00,020 --> 00:01:03,250 estimates with real-time surface models. 13 00:01:03,250 --> 00:01:06,680 This produces new, important information about flooding. 14 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,970 >> How much rain is falling? 15 00:01:08,970 --> 00:01:10,570 How rare is the rainfall? 16 00:01:10,570 --> 00:01:16,700 And also, is this rainfall going to infiltrate into the soil or is it going to pond and create 17 00:01:16,700 --> 00:01:17,700 a flood? 18 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:20,650 Is it going to create a catastrophic flash flood? 19 00:01:20,650 --> 00:01:23,290 Secondly, very specific locations. 20 00:01:23,290 --> 00:01:27,920 So at every one kilometer gridpoint, were able to determine if there's going to be flash 21 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:29,240 flooding there or not. 22 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:30,799 Thirdly, the timing. 23 00:01:30,799 --> 00:01:35,140 How quickly is that wave going to arrive at a given location? 24 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:39,620 >> I really like it because it gives us an historical perspective in additional to what's 25 00:01:39,620 --> 00:01:44,770 happening in each river and stream and that provides me a lot more confidence when issuing 26 00:01:44,770 --> 00:01:46,070 warnings. 27 00:01:46,070 --> 00:01:49,850 >> FLASH can help us put the rainfall into context and to really give us a heads up of 28 00:01:49,850 --> 00:01:54,830 where we need to be focusing our greatest attention to when putting out flash flood 29 00:01:54,830 --> 00:01:55,830 warnings. 30 00:01:55,830 --> 00:02:01,000 >> FLASH is now operational across the National Weather Service, which means you'll be receiving 31 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:06,439 more accurate updates and warnings about flash flooding in your area. 32 00:02:06,439 --> 00:02:11,540 For more info on FLASH, check us out online and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.