SaferPlaces has announced a new partnership with the meteorological technology company Meteoblue, aiming to combine advanced weather forecasting with real-time flood intelligence to help cities and infrastructure operators better anticipate and manage flood risks.

The collaboration integrates SaferCast, the operational module for real-time monitoring and forecasting of urban flooding, with meteoblue’s high-resolution weather forecasts and rainfall nowcasting capabilities. Together, the two technologies will provide earlier and more precise insights into how rainfall events may translate into urban flooding and river overflow.

As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, translating weather data into operational insights is becoming increasingly critical for decision-makers responsible for protecting communities and essential infrastructure.

Turning weather forecasts into actionable flood intelligence

Weather forecasts alone do not always reveal how rainfall will impact a specific city, drainage network, or watershed. SaferCast addresses this gap by transforming meteorological data into actionable flood intelligence.

By combining meteoblue’s high-resolution weather modelling with SaferPlaces’ hydrological and flood-risk analytics, the integrated system enables:

  • High-resolution rainfall nowcasting and forecasting
  • Real-time pluvial and fluvial flood risk prediction
  • Enhanced early-warning capabilities for urban flooding
  • Improved operational decision-making for cities, utilities, and emergency services

The system helps operators understand where flooding may occur, how severe it could become, and when preventive action is needed, allowing authorities to respond earlier and more effectively.

Supporting cities and infrastructure under growing climate pressure

Urban areas and critical infrastructure systems are increasingly exposed to climate-driven flood risks. Intense rainfall events can overwhelm drainage systems, disrupt energy and transport networks, and threaten public safety.

By combining meteorological expertise with flood intelligence technology, the SaferPlaces–meteoblue partnership aims to support:

  • Urban climate resilience strategies
  • Protection of critical infrastructure
  • Civil protection and emergency management operations
  • Climate adaptation and risk-informed urban planning

For city authorities and infrastructure operators, earlier and more accurate insight into potential flood events can mean the difference between reactive response and proactive prevention.

A step forward for data-driven disaster risk reduction

As climate extremes intensify across many regions, the ability to convert advanced weather forecasts into operational risk intelligence is becoming an essential component of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Through this partnership, SaferPlaces and meteoblue aim to equip cities, utilities, and emergency authorities with smarter tools for anticipating and reducing flood impacts, helping communities become safer and more resilient in the face of growing climate uncertainty.