NWS Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center Collaboration and Partner Support Before, During, and After Significant Flood Events

The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center (MARFC) in State College, PA, operates as one of thirteen National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Centers (RFCs) across the nation. In support of the NWS mission of protecting life and property and enhancing the national economy, MARFC provides river forecasts and specialized impact-based decision support services to a broad range of stakeholders in the Mid-Atlantic region, including emergency management, river basin commissions, water supply managers, and the public.

When the remnants of Hurricane Ida approached the Mid-Atlantic region in 2021, MARFC worked closely with several core partners to highlight the flood risks and provide accurate and timely forecast information and event briefings critical to decision-makers. As torrential downpours led to record flash and river flooding from Maryland through New York and beyond, MARFC’s collaboration was praised by partners, including FEMA and USACE, as essential to the preparation, response, and recovery efforts.

This presentation will showcase some of the routine and event-specific impact-based decision support services that MARFC provides to its core partners and the public. As a case study, the flooding from Ida revealed successes and lessons learned about service delivery, flood risk communication, and interagency coordination surrounding a significant flood event. NWS and MARFC have since developed and adopted several promising new tools and initiatives to improve flood forecasting and decision support services, including flood inundation mapping and increased proficiency in probabilistic forecasting and messaging.

The goal of this presentation is to demonstrate some examples of RFC decision support services, including some new and developing methods. As centers specializing in operational hydrology, NWS RFCs offer unique perspectives and opportunities for collaboration and innovation that seek to address the new and ever-changing water challenges of the Nation.