OHD - Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS)
for Water Resources and Emergency Management

The National Weather Service (NWS) is responsible for providing our Nation's flood warnings and water resource forecasts. These warnings and forecasts are critical to public safety and the economy.

Significance & Major Players:

• AHPS incorporates science and technology improvements.
• AHPS generates visually oriented, commercially valuable products to satisfy diverse customer needs such as emergency response, river commerce, flood control, water supply, hydropower, irrigation, and recreation.
• Major players are the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, March 22, 2011ation Service and other federal, state and local agencies; the National Safety Council; the insurance industry; and numerous university research programs.

AHPS fulfills the NWS Strategic Plan for climate, water, and weather services. AHPS incorporates improved climate predictions and weather forecasts to extend 1, 2, and 3 day river forecasts to 14 days and provide longer outlooks.

Figure 1. Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

AHPS supports more timely and effective emergency actions and significantly mitigate the economic losses from major floods and droughts. AHPS provides better overall information for use in managing competing water demands for irrigation, fisheries, hydropower and other purposes. National implementation of AHPS will save lives with at least $240 million per year in reduced flood losses and an additional $525 million per year in economic benefits to water resource users (2000 Draft Report, National Hydrologic Warning Council).

Figure 2. Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service provides many benefits.

Visit the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) website for more information, including an online video in 4 and 20 minute formats.

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