TP17/044 - Rainfall Radar

Tender description

Kent County Council (KCC) is the Highways Authority and the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) for Kent. Each of these roles utilises rainfall data. At present the Highways Division uses the Met Offices forecasts to determine service requirements when heavy rainfall, high winds, snow and other severe weather is forecast, however, these forecasts are often for a broad geographical area and are only updated periodically. In the aftermath of severe rainfall that has caused flooding both services use rainfall data to assess the return period of the event and assess the performance of assets. However, the rainfall data available is from the general rain gauge network, which often do not record small intense rainfall events, particularly those associated with thunderstorms, which means the assessment of return periods is difficult and often cannot be done with confidence. Therefore, KCC would like to access more accurate rainfall forecasts, particularly of severe rainfall, to improve the of planning highway resources, especially for out of hours services. KCC would also like access to accurate rainfall totals for the assessment of flood events and the performance of flood risk management assets after severe rainfall. Additionally, increasingly both services are working with local communities to jointly manage local flood risk issues. Providing accurate and reliable forecasts to members of these communities to enable them to act appropriately is important. To improve these aspects of our service, KCC is seeking access to an accurate weather forecasting service that it can use across the county council and link with partners that provides accurate, reliable and up to date weather forecasts and historic weather data, particularly of rainfall, high winds and snow All questions queries and correspondence must come through the Kent Business Portal Keywords: Weather Forecasting, Weather Services, Radar Rainfall