Flood Early Warning Systems for Hydrological (Sub) Catchments

Abstract Provision of early warning is an effective strategy in reducing flood damage and loss of life due to flooding. Flood forecasting and warning systems are important instruments in supporting relevant authorities issuing appropriate warnings. With the advent of computer‐based simulation techniques, computer‐based data processing capabilities, and computer‐based communication facilities, the impact of hydroinformatics on flood forecasting in support of flood warning is manifest. In this article, an overview is given of flood forecasting systems for providing warnings in hydrological catchments. This overview is given from the perspective of the position of flood forecasting within the process of detection, forecasting, warning, and response. A categorization of flood forecasting systems is introduced, and the elements of a flood forecasting system are discussed.