Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications
Abstract Operational flood forecasting in Canada is a provincial responsibility that is carried out by several entities across the country. However, the increasing costs and impacts of floods require better and nationally coordinated flood prediction systems. A more coherent flood forecasting framew...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12895 |
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| author | Louise Arnal Alain C. Pietroniro John W. Pomeroy Vincent Fortin David R. Casson Tricia A. Stadnyk Prabin Rokaya Dorothy Durnford Evan Friesenhan Martyn P. Clark |
| author_facet | Louise Arnal Alain C. Pietroniro John W. Pomeroy Vincent Fortin David R. Casson Tricia A. Stadnyk Prabin Rokaya Dorothy Durnford Evan Friesenhan Martyn P. Clark |
| author_sort | Louise Arnal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Operational flood forecasting in Canada is a provincial responsibility that is carried out by several entities across the country. However, the increasing costs and impacts of floods require better and nationally coordinated flood prediction systems. A more coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada can enable implementing advanced prediction capabilities across the different entities with responsibility for flood forecasting. Recently, the Canadian meteorological and hydrological services were tasked to develop a national flow guidance system. Alongside this initiative, the Global Water Futures program has been advancing cold regions process understanding, hydrological modeling, and forecasting. A community of practice was established for industry, academia, and decision‐makers to share viewpoints on hydrological challenges. Taken together, these initiatives are paving the way towards a national flood forecasting framework. In this article, forecasting challenges are identified (with a focus on cold regions), and recommendations are made to promote the creation of this framework. These include the need for cooperation, well‐defined governance, and better knowledge mobilization. Opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing data availability globally are also highlighted. Advances in each of these areas are positioning Canada as a major contributor to the international operational flood forecasting landscape. This article highlights a route towards the deployment of capacities across large geographical domains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5873a7d62c4040aa849da4e2d9211702 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1753-318X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-5873a7d62c4040aa849da4e2d92117022025-08-20T02:54:01ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2025-03-01181n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.12895Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implicationsLouise Arnal0Alain C. Pietroniro1John W. Pomeroy2Vincent Fortin3David R. Casson4Tricia A. Stadnyk5Prabin Rokaya6Dorothy Durnford7Evan Friesenhan8Martyn P. Clark9Centre for Hydrology University of Saskatchewan Canmore Alberta CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaCentre for Hydrology University of Saskatchewan Canmore Alberta CanadaMeteorological Research Division Environment and Climate Change Canada Dorval Quebec CanadaCentre for Hydrology University of Saskatchewan Canmore Alberta CanadaDepartment of Geography University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaSchool of Environment and Sustainability University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon Saskatchewan CanadaMeteorological Service of Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada Dorval Quebec CanadaMeteorological Service of Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada Edmonton Alberta CanadaCentre for Hydrology University of Saskatchewan Canmore Alberta CanadaAbstract Operational flood forecasting in Canada is a provincial responsibility that is carried out by several entities across the country. However, the increasing costs and impacts of floods require better and nationally coordinated flood prediction systems. A more coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada can enable implementing advanced prediction capabilities across the different entities with responsibility for flood forecasting. Recently, the Canadian meteorological and hydrological services were tasked to develop a national flow guidance system. Alongside this initiative, the Global Water Futures program has been advancing cold regions process understanding, hydrological modeling, and forecasting. A community of practice was established for industry, academia, and decision‐makers to share viewpoints on hydrological challenges. Taken together, these initiatives are paving the way towards a national flood forecasting framework. In this article, forecasting challenges are identified (with a focus on cold regions), and recommendations are made to promote the creation of this framework. These include the need for cooperation, well‐defined governance, and better knowledge mobilization. Opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing data availability globally are also highlighted. Advances in each of these areas are positioning Canada as a major contributor to the international operational flood forecasting landscape. This article highlights a route towards the deployment of capacities across large geographical domains.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12895Canadacold regionsfloodforecastinghydrology |
| spellingShingle | Louise Arnal Alain C. Pietroniro John W. Pomeroy Vincent Fortin David R. Casson Tricia A. Stadnyk Prabin Rokaya Dorothy Durnford Evan Friesenhan Martyn P. Clark Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications Journal of Flood Risk Management Canada cold regions flood forecasting hydrology |
| title | Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications |
| title_full | Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications |
| title_fullStr | Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications |
| title_short | Towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for Canada: Local to global implications |
| title_sort | towards a coherent flood forecasting framework for canada local to global implications |
| topic | Canada cold regions flood forecasting hydrology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12895 |
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