RA VI HydroSOS Task Team – Meeting Highlights

Community event
Remote
Share:
Icon
(Europe/Zurich: 03 October 2025, 13:00 - 14:00)
Past event

The RA VI HydroSOS Task Team convened on 3 October 2025 to review progress on the operational implementation of the WMO Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS) in Europe. The meeting brought together Task Team members, invited experts, and WMO Secretariat representatives to share pilot updates, technical developments, and strategies to enhance regional collaboration.

Key Insights and Developments:

  • HydroSOS Global Portal Operational:
    The portal now integrates forecast data from SMHI and status data from GEOGloWS, with additional ensemble datasets from the Copernicus C3S Water Service expected to further improve seasonal and sub-seasonal outlooks. The system continues to evolve as a layered framework, combining national, regional, and global hydrological information to fill data gaps and support Member States in operational decision-making.
  • European Pilots Showcase Practical Adoption:
    • Romania: National forecasts spanning over 30 years are being linked with HydroSOS scripts and ensemble seasonal forecasts, supporting reservoir operations, hydropower planning, navigation, and environmental flows. Efforts are underway to generate graphical outputs and local forecast products for broader usability.
    • Rhine Basin: The Delft-FEWS transformation tool enables automatic generation of HydroSOS-compatible data within existing operational systems, allowing agencies to visualize results and share outputs efficiently. This demonstrates a research-to-operations pathway that can be replicated across other basins.
    • Sava Basin: Pilot integration extends from flood to low-flow forecasting, with testing planned for March–June 2026, highlighting how HydroSOS can support transboundary water management.
  • Simplified Data Sharing Reduces Barriers:
    Members were reassured that only processed hydrological indicators are required, with minimal monthly effort, and multiple sharing pathways (API, SharePoint, FEWS) ensure ease of integration without compromising data sensitivity.
  • Research-to-Operations Synergy:
    Projects like OUTLAST in Germany exemplify the smooth transition from hydrological research to operational services. HydroSOS acts as a bridge between scientific insights and real-world applications, enhancing drought monitoring and early warning capabilities.
  • Policy Relevance and UN Partnership:
    The meeting underscored the importance of aligning HydroSOS with Post-COP30 adaptation priorities, National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Engagement with UNDP, UNECE, and river basin commissions strengthens regional uptake, facilitates capacity-building, and ensures HydroSOS outputs inform resilience planning and transboundary cooperation.

  • Next steps: 

    Focus areas for the coming months include finalizing gap-filling methods, refining seasonal and sub-seasonal outlooks, and integrating global and regional products. A regional HydroSOS workshop for RA VI Members is planned for 2026 to provide hands-on guidance, assess capacities, and foster regional collaboration.

The meeting highlighted how HydroSOS is moving from concept to actionable service in Europe, providing operational, policy-relevant hydrological information, strengthening drought resilience, and supporting Post-COP30 climate adaptation actions. Through technical innovation, collaborative pilots, and strategic UN partnerships, RA VI is enhancing the capacity of Member States to monitor, forecast, and respond to water-related risks.