A new Rapid Flood Guidance trial service
On 14 May 2024 the Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) will launch a trial Rapid Flood Guidance (RFG) service. The trial will run until 30 September 2024.
The Rapid Flood Guidance service:
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will give short notice updates for England and Wales - to supplement the Flood Guidance Statement (FGS)
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is for responders who need to make decisions at a timescale of 0 to 6 hours
FFC Hydrometeorology Services Manager Clare Miller said:
I'm really excited to see the Rapid Flood Guidance operational trial go live in May and the support it will provide to our responder community in planning and mitigating surface water flood risk. I encourage all our users to sign up and provide feedback on the new service.
Sign up now through your Flood Guidance Statement account.
Meeting a need for improved forecasting and guidance
The Rapid Flood Guidance service aims to support the responder community be better prepared to mitigate the impacts from rapid flooding.
This reflects the increasing risk due to rapid flooding from extreme rainfall events.
3.2 million properties and transport, utility, health and educational infrastructure are estimated to be at risk of surface water flooding in England.
The risk from surface water flooding was recently upgraded in the National Risk Register 2023. The impact score was increased to significant, on par with the risk of river and coastal flooding. This now makes it one of the highest environmental risks faced across England.
Scope of the Rapid Flood Guidance service
The Rapid Flood Guidance service provides a new:
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advisory badge on the front page of the FGS for days when there is a heightened risk of rapid flooding
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Rapid Flood Guidance product that will be issued on heightened risk days
The Rapid Flood Guidance product will be updated during the day when new information on development of weather features that could result in rapid flooding become available.
The Rapid Flood Guidance product does not give:
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information about specific rivers or local features
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guidance on what actions to take
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information to the public
The Rapid Flood Guidance trial does not:
- alter any of the existing responsibilities for managing surface water flooding
- change the way the Environment Agency responds to surface water flooding incidents
Signing up for the Rapid Flood Guidance service
By signing up for the trial, you will receive the RFG product:
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direct to your email inbox
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by text (optional)
Signing up will ensure that you will receive:
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Rapid Flood Guidance tests in the run up to the launch
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invitations to Rapid Flood Guidance webinars
The Rapid Flood Guidance can also be accessed (without email or text notifications) through the Met Office's Hazard Manager.
Providing your views on future development
The development of the Rapid Flood Guidance service has been informed by extensive user research. This will continue during the trial period through:
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a link to share feedback with the FFC
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user interviews after rapid flood events
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a survey and user interviews at the end of the trial - assessing satisfaction, comprehension, usefulness, usability, and value
By signing up to the trial we may invite you to provide feedback (on a voluntary basis) which will be used to:
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assess the value of the Rapid Flood Guidance
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make recommendations for the future of the service
Finding out more
You can find out more about the service and details of the Rapid Flood Guidance product:
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at a drop in webinar - details will be sent to signed up users in advance of the launch date
Part of a wider investment in improved forecasting
The Rapid Flood Guidance trial service is part of the Surface Water Flood Forecasting Improvement Project (SWFFIP) which is:
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a 3-year Defra and Environment Agency SR21 funded initiative, completing in March 2025
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contributing to Defra's Surface water management action plan - July 2018
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implemented by the Met Office and Environment Agency through the FFC
