NOAA predicts overall low national flood risk for spring 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Water Center shared predictions of below-average flood risk for communities across the United States this spring, in a webinar held on March 21, 2024. The risk of major flooding is lower due to higher temperatures throughout the U.S. predicted by forecasters from the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, as well as the historically low snowpack and winter precipitation in 2023.
“This is the first Spring Outlook since 2021 with no population expected to be impacted by major flooding,” said Ed Clark, director of NOAA’s National Water Center. Scientists do predict moderate flooding in the more flood-prone areas located in the southern and midwestern U.S.
The NOAA reports that nearly 133 million people are at risk of flood-related losses in their communities, with about 400,000 facing the risk for moderate flooding.
“Climate change is affecting the timing, intensity and duration of weather events in the United States,” stated Rick Spinrad, NOAA administrator. “The Spring Outlook is one of the many tools NOAA provides to help communities prepare for what’s ahead.”
The NOAA recently shared its 2025 budget request to the Biden-Harris administration, which includes the goal of expanding on climate products, services and data to strengthen climate resilience. The budget will allow the NOAA to utilize technology solutions to support improved data-driven and sustainable economic development, invest in satellites and continue its GEOXO satellite program and provide a comprehensive climate data and service value chain.
“People count on NOAA every day for reliable and actionable climate and extreme weather information to help make informed decisions that help save lives and livelihoods,” said Spinrad in a press release statement. “This budget will allow NOAA to improve on our legacy systems while also providing significant improvements in diverse data and product services we provide the nation every day.”
