Last week, NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) launched a new website: The National Water Prediction Service. This new hub for water data, resources, and services combines local and regional forecasts with water data and new national level capabilities, such as flood inundation maps and the National Water Model, providing emergency planners and water managers with enhanced data on water scarcity, floods, and other water hazards.

According to NWS, the new National Water Prediction Service website provides tools that deliver actionable hydrologic information across all time scales to address the growing risk of flooding, drought and water availability, and enables partners and the American public to make smart water decisions. Some of the site’s key features include a new, dynamic and seamless national map with flexible options and expansive layers available to help analyze water conditions anywhere in the country. The National Water Model, which provides 24-hour coverage, seven days a week hydrologic forecast guidance along 3.4 million river miles across the U.S., including river segments, streams and creeks that have no river gauges. Real-time, comprehensive Flood Inundation Maps, which are being implemented in phases, will cover nearly 100% of the U.S. by October 2026. And an Application Programming Interface (API) has been added to the traditional geographic information system (GIS) data, which will allow users to flow water information into their own applications and services.

Relatedly, NWS released experimental flood inundation maps for portions of the U.S. last fall. The maps coverage is expected to expand to 100% of the U.S. by 2026. NWS also has these three useful tools:

• National Water Model Hourly Analysis shows flood inundation extent based on the National Water Model hourly streamflow analysis, where the National Water Model analyzes flows at or above a high water threshold.
• National Water Model 5-Day Maximum Flood Inundation Forecast shows the maximum inundation extent over the next five days derived from the National Water Model streamflow forecast. This service is available where and when the National Water Model forecasts flows that meet or exceed the high water threshold for a given river reach.
• River Forecast Center 5-Day Maximum Flood Inundation Forecast provides a 5-day forecast of flood inundation extent based on the streamflow predictions from an NWS River Forecast Center. This forecast is generated anytime a forecast point location is predicted to reach or exceed the action stage.

“This online water hub is modern and flexible — providing information to help our partners and the public make sound decisions for water safety and management," said Ed Clark, director of NOAA’s National Water Center. “The new site leverages modern software, geospatial technology and cloud infrastructure, vastly improving the customer experience before, during and after extreme water events such as floods and droughts.” Access the new National Water Prediction Service hub or read more at NOAA.