Pre-monsoon flash floods that threaten lives, livelihoods, and harvests are increasingly common in northeast Bangladesh.

In 2022, two large flash floods affected over seven million people, with some districts >80% submerged.    

Flash floods are very rapid in onset, and mostly arise from heavy rain across the border in India. Forecasting and early warning can give communities precious time to evacuate, and safeguard belongings; and can help emergency first responders ready the appropriate aid for communities: clean water ofr instance.   

In 2024 ICIMOD worked with Bangladesh’s Water Development Board’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) to co-develop a flash-flood forecasting model that can predict floods up to two days in advance. The model is now being trialled as part of Bangladesh’s national flood forecasting and FFWC staff are being trained in the model.