The criteria currently in place for the issue of an EFAS Pre-Tasking request are listed below:
- An EFAS Formal or Informal notification has already been sent to relevant EFAS partner(s). Pre-Tasking is not issued based on Flash Flood signal.
- Total flood probability median (i.e. 50% probability) needs to exceed the 20-yr RP threshold.
- Start of the event (i.e. median exceeding the 5-yr RP threshold) generally within 24-36 hours from the current time (can be less, cannot be more).
- Area part of EFAS Condition of access.
Additional considerations:
- The spread of the total probability shown in the reporting point pop-up window forecast is not very wide (high certainty in the forecasts).
- The historical model performance (where available) is adequate indicating that the model is not lacking of process representation.
- Adequate accuracy of water balance (hydrological simulation driven by the most recent meteorological observations), indicating that the initial model conditions are correct.
- The forecast should be persistent and affecting a reasonably long stretch of a river (as displayed in the layer "Flood probability"- layer from the "Flood summary" tab).
- Presence of a signal from the Rapid Impact Assessment layer can considered as supporting information.
- Flows are not significantly affected by reservoirs.
Example of the forecasts from EFAS-IS for the event in northeast Romania during late spring 2025
Comparison between Pre-Tasking criteria and EFAS Formal and Informal notifications criteria
| EFAS NOTIFICATION | PRE-TASKING E-MAIL | |
|---|---|---|
| Start of the event in EFAS forecast | > 48 hours (Formal), could be lower (Informal) | 24-36 hours |
| Probability | ≥ 50% (Formal), ≥ 40% (Informal) of 5-y RP (Total probability) | > 50 % of 20-y RP (Total probability) |
| Recipients | all partners in the catchment | only affected partners (according to the Area of Interest) |
| Attachments | none | area of interest (*.geojson, *.kml) |
Didn't find what you were looking for? Send us a message at info@efas.eu or go to the EFAS webpage and use the contact form.