People across the Scottish Borders are being encouraged to prepare and be aware by understanding the information available to them as the region heads into its first autumn and winter with SEPA’s enhanced Flood Warning service.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) completed a full review and recalibration of the service earlier this year, using the latest rainfall and water-level information to improve forecasting models and update warning thresholds.
Changes introduced in July increased the number of local Flood Warning areas across the Scottish Borders from 30 to 32, with more targeted warnings introduced for communities around Selkirk and Preston to Paxton.
Now SEPA is highlighting some of the science and monitoring behind those warnings at a working gauging station on the River Tweed in Peebles.
Information collected at SEPA’s gauging stations helps specialists understand changing river conditions and forms part of the wider picture used to forecast flooding.
Eleanore Cooper, SEPA’s Head of Environmental Forecasting, Warning and Informing, said:
“The improvements we introduced this summer mean we head into autumn and winter with a service that better reflects local conditions and how flooding can affect individual communities across the Borders.
“But a Flood Warning appearing on someone’s phone is the end of a much bigger process.
“Behind it is a network of river and rainfall monitoring, weather forecasts, computer models and specialist expertise helping us understand what is happening and what could happen next.
“People can pass one of our gauging stations without ever knowing what it is or what it is doing, but these sites are continually giving us information about our rivers.”
Councillor Robin Tatler, Executive Member for Public Safety and Resilience, Scottish Borders Council, said:
“Heading into our first autumn and winter with the enhanced Flood Warning service, we want people across the Borders to be prepared and understand the information available to them.
“Flooding can happen quickly, so we would encourage everyone to check the flood risk in their area, sign up for Floodline alerts and to SB Alert for local information about weather warnings, incidents and other emergencies. The Council also have useful information on preparing for and responding to emergencies on the emergency planning pages of our website.
“Working together with SEPA, we want to provide an enhanced service which provides more locally targeted information, helping communities be better prepared for the weather ahead."
DIVE RIGHT IN
Sign up to our newsletter
Behind Scotland’s flood information is a network of monitoring, forecasting and specialist expertise that most people never see.
At river gauging stations across the country, equipment continually monitors changing water levels. SEPA teams also make physical measurements to understand the relationship between the level of a river and the amount of water flowing through it.
Because rivers and channels change over time, equipment and measurements are regularly checked to make sure the information remains reliable.
That information is brought together with data from SEPA’s rain gauge network, weather forecasts, computer modelling and specialist judgement to help flood forecasters understand how conditions are developing.
Bruce Campbell, SEPA Hydrometry National Team Manager, said:
“People can pass one of our gauging stations without ever knowing what it is or what it is doing. But sites like these across Scotland are essential so we can continually monitor what our rivers are doing.
“The equipment is one part of a much bigger system. Our teams maintain the monitoring network, take measurements and check the data, which is then used alongside rainfall information, weather forecasts, modelling and the expertise of our flood forecasting colleagues.
“All of that work happening behind the scenes helps us build the best possible picture of developing flood risk and provides useful information to communities and first responders across Scotland.”
The same forecasting expertise also supports Scotland’s emergency preparedness. The Scottish Flood Forecasting Service produces a daily Flood Guidance Statement for Category 1 and Category 2 responders, helping local authorities, emergency services and other organisations prepare for and respond to potential flooding.
People can view the Scottish Flood Forecast, current Flood Alerts and Warnings and register for Floodline through SEPA’s website at sepa.org.uk/flooding
[Main image: river level monitoring at Peebles gauging station]