Scottish Flood Forecasting Service
This joint initiative between the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) and the Met Office combines hydrological
and meteorological information for the first time, so that both
organisations can share their expertise to improve the
accuracy of flood forecasts for the whole of Scotland.
The service ensures:
- We provide consistent messages to organisations that deal with
floods as they plan their response to flood threats
- Our forecast activities are more tightly integrated at an
operational level
- We provide a more streamlined set of forecast products
Who is the service for?
Key flooding responders such as the emergency services, local
authorities and other Category 1 and 2 responders.
What it offers
The service offers countrywide flood forecasts on a longer lead
time targeted for emergency services, local authorities and other
organisations with flooding management duties. The service also
directly helps those using SEPA’s Floodline service, by providing
more specific information which allows SEPA to issue more timely
flood warnings, giving people a better chance of reducing the
impact of flooding on their home or business.
A Flood Guidance Statement is sent each day to Category 1
and 2 responders. This provides them with an assessment of the risk
of flooding for the next five days from rivers, coastal and tidal
areas and also surface water.
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How to get the Flood Guidance Statement
If you’re a Category 1 or 2 responder you can register to receive
the daily Flood Guidance Statement by emailing
flooding@sepa.org.uk
The Flood Guidance Statement will also be uploaded each day to
the Met Office’s Hazard Manager website in the Scottish Flood
Forecasting Service section.
Your guide to
using the Flood Guidance Statement 
provides information that will help you use the
statement effectively.
How the service works
The Scottish Flood Forecasting Service, although virtual, is a
partnership role operating between the Met Office’s operations
centre in Aberdeen and SEPA’s Flood Forecasting Team based in
Perth. Staff in each office work on a daily basis to prepare a
statement on the likelihood and risk of flooding.
The joint service allows flexibility during flooding incidents
where staff have the ability to co-locate during major flooding
events to share facilities and services between SEPA and Met Office
teams.
Further SFFS information: