Operationalization of Impact-based Forecasting and Hydrological Modelling

Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) are highly vulnerable to natural hazards, such as floods, droughts, storms, lightning strikes, riverbank collapses and landslides, which are occurring with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change. Lives and livelihoods are often lost in related disasters that also cause extensive damage to property and infrastructure, hampering economic development. To improve preparedness and diminish impacts, WMO, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Cambodia and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Lao PDR developed an impact-based flood forecast system for six river basins that are particularly susceptible to flooding: the Pursat, Prek Thnout and Stung Sen basins in Cambodia and the Namhoung, Xe Done and Xe Kong basins in Lao PDR. This work was conducted under the framework of the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM).

The flood forecasting system has now started to generate early alerts for flood threats along with information about their possible impacts. The initiative has brought the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) together to coordinate the translation and communication of the system’s hydrometeorological impact-based warnings to vulnerable communities to enable early action. In a three-day regional workshop, held in August in Thailand, they finalize the development of the impact-based flood forecasting system in both countries. In the months that followed the workshop through to the end of monsoon season in October, the NMHSs and NDMOs of Cambodia and Lao PDR tested the system for accuracy, liaising with users to ensure that their tailored warning bulletins suited their requirements. This also helped them to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for floods in their respective countries.

These activities are undertaken through the CREWS Cambodia and Lao PDR project, and contribute to the Early Warnings for All initiative. For more information on CREWS initiative: visit here.