UP team develops 24-hour flood forecasting system

Scientists from the University of the Philippines-Diliman developed an Impact-Based Flood Forecasting System that predicts floods up to 24 hours in advance.

The system uses rainfall projections and maps to identify areas prone to severe flooding, adjusting global weather models for local conditions to enhance accuracy.

Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, head of the UP Resilience Institute, said the system provides early warnings at the barangay level through map view or tabular format on the NOAH website.

Since its release in 2024, the system has successfully forecast flooding events in Davao, Palawan, and Borongan this year.

The public can contribute by reporting floods via the LyfSaver app to validate the data provided by the forecasting system.

Lagmay's team plans to expand the system to include predictions for rain-triggered landslides and storm surges.

Funding for the project was provided by USAID-BHA, and it won recognition at the PREP Innovation Challenge organized by the United Nations World Food Programme and USAID.