From November 11 to 22, 2024, the Hydrologic Research Center (HRC) successfully completed an in-person training program for operational forecasters at the World Meteorological Organization Regional Training Center (WMO-RTC) in Alanya, Turkey.

This ten-day training focused on the Flash Flood Guidance Systems (FFGS) for the South-Eastern Europe (SEE), Pakistan-Afghanistan Region (PAR), and Black Sea-Middle East (BSME). HRC experts Dr. Theresa Modrick Hansen and Dr. Norman Pelak provided valuable insights to enhance meteorologists’ and hydrologists’ understanding of the FFGS.

Participants were introduced to the system’s capabilities and learned how to interpret and utilize FFGS products for generating flash flood warnings. They navigated the FFGS interface and gained a better understanding of the technical aspects of the system, including the available precipitation inputs, background on soil and snow modeling, and the meaning of different flash flood guidance products.  A key training component was participant engagement in hands-on exercises, significantly improving their ability to use and interpret the FFGS.

The success of this training enhances the effectiveness of the FFGS in these regions, and the participants’ commitment to developing their skills establishes a foundation for future FFGS training events.