Urban drainage modelling

Weather radar is becoming much more applicable to drainage engineers because of its greater resolution and accuracy. The UK weather radar network covers all mainland parts of the UK, and many large urban areas have radar coverage at 1 km resolution. 1 km resolution radar data has been shown to be very accurate when compared to raingauge data, as shown in the graphic below.

As a result, water companies are using 1 km radar data as input data for complex sewer models, thereby capturing spatial patterns of rainfall much better than with raingauge data alone.

Weather radar data can also be used in real time to assist in water quality sampling projects, in sewer maintenance or in flow surveys - when spatial rainfall information is needed in real time.

As technology progresses, weather radar will prove an important element in a real time control (RTC) system. Some water companies are currently examining what is possible with RTC for their catchments.

...for modelling

The Met Office has produced specialist tools for those who require high resolution rainfall data for urban drainage modelling (UPM or flooding studies) and those who need access to long data records of daily data.

Gridded data sets are 40 year records of daily rainfall covering the entire UK at a 5 km resolution. These data have been created from up to 7000 raingauges, using sophisticated interpolation methods and taking into account coastal effects and orographic enhancement.

...for post-event analysis

Many water companies already use Met Office services to assess the severity and rarity of heavy rainfall events, used for DG5 assessments. Storm Analysis uses all available raingauge and radar data to estimate the likely return period of any rainfall event in the UK.

For further information about working with the Met Office on weather solutions please contact our 24-hour Customer Centre or contact water@metoffice.gov.uk.