Another Drop Lecture – Flash Flood Events, Their Prediction, and the Future

Flash flooding events occur when large amounts of accumulating rainfall exceed the capacity, natural or otherwise, for surface water to be removed. Highly urbanized areas, given their lack of permeable surfaces and constrained drainage, are often most at risk from flash flooding events. Prediction of such events is challenging, particularly when small-scale weather features have an oversized impact – causing thunderstorms to generate copious amounts of accumulating rainfall even when large-scale conditions seem marginally conducive at best. There are also indications that flash flooding events are on the increase across Canada due to anthropogenic climate change.

This lecture will focus on the details of one particular event – the 2013 ‘billion dollar’ flash flood in Toronto – to illustrate the characteristics of a modern, urban flash flooding event and the challenges for weather forecasting. The future of flash flood prediction given new and emerging knowledge and technologies will also be discussed.

Free event, parking, and refreshments!
RSVP at http://bit.ly/2MeG5tn or contact.inweh@unu.edu