Flood Forecasting Centre
Encyclopedia
The Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) is a joint venture between the Environment Agency
and the Met Office
to provide warnings of flooding which may affect England and Wales. The FFC is based in the Operations Centre at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter.
a review was commissioned by the government to see what lessons could be learned. Chaired by Sir Michael Pitt the review produced a number of recommendations which were published in June 2008, among them was the recommendation that the different agencies work more closely together to improve warnings services.
Hilary Benn
. The centre combines the work of meteorologists from the Met Office and hydrologists from the Environment Agency. Its role is to provide better warnings advice to the government, local authorities, emergency responders and the general public. It faced its first major test in November 2009 when severe flooding affected Northern England
, in particular Cumbria
and the town of Cockermouth
, the Pitt Review progress report highlighted the accuracy of the warnings issued ahead of this event.In April 2011 the FFC moved from its location in central London and is now located within Ops Centre at the Met Office HQ in Exeter.
(SEPA) and the Met Office with £750,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. It will fulfil much of the same role as the FFC, though it is a virtual centre with meteorologists based at the Operations Centre in Aberdeen
and hydrologists based at SEPA in Perth.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
and the Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
to provide warnings of flooding which may affect England and Wales. The FFC is based in the Operations Centre at the Met Office headquarters in Exeter.
Background
Following severe flooding across the UK in 20072007 United Kingdom floods
The 2007 United Kingdom floods were a series of destructive floods that occurred in various areas across the country during the summer of 2007. The most severe floods occurred across Northern Ireland on 12 June; East Yorkshire and The Midlands on 15 June; Yorkshire, The Midlands, Gloucestershire,...
a review was commissioned by the government to see what lessons could be learned. Chaired by Sir Michael Pitt the review produced a number of recommendations which were published in June 2008, among them was the recommendation that the different agencies work more closely together to improve warnings services.
Formation and role
The FFC was officially opened on 21 April 2009 in London by Environment MinisterSecretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a UK cabinet-level position in charge of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the successor to the positions of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport...
Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
. The centre combines the work of meteorologists from the Met Office and hydrologists from the Environment Agency. Its role is to provide better warnings advice to the government, local authorities, emergency responders and the general public. It faced its first major test in November 2009 when severe flooding affected Northern England
2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods
The 2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods was a weather event that affected parts of Great Britain and Ireland throughout November and into December 2009. November was the wettest month across the United Kingdom since records began in 1914 and was well above average temperatures. The worst affected...
, in particular Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
and the town of Cockermouth
Cockermouth
-History:The Romans created a fort at Derventio, now the adjoining village of Papcastle, to protect the river crossing, which had become located on a major route for troops heading towards Hadrian's Wall....
, the Pitt Review progress report highlighted the accuracy of the warnings issued ahead of this event.In April 2011 the FFC moved from its location in central London and is now located within Ops Centre at the Met Office HQ in Exeter.
Scottish Flood Forecasting Service
In March 2011 the Scottish Flood Forecasting Service (SFFS) was formed, a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection AgencyScottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is Scotland’s environmental regulator. Its main role is to protect and improve Scotland's environment...
(SEPA) and the Met Office with £750,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. It will fulfil much of the same role as the FFC, though it is a virtual centre with meteorologists based at the Operations Centre in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and hydrologists based at SEPA in Perth.