Realtime Flood Prediction monitors flood risk 24/7

When Mother Nature speaks, she makes her voice heard. Floods previously regarded as 100-year events are now happening as often as every five to 10 years. In the US alone, almost one USD trillion in flood damage has been reported since 2000, and this number is expected to rise by 26 per cent by 2050.

Businesses with sites in flood-exposed locations typically plan around standard weather forecasts. These describe the rain that is coming, but not what the water does once it reaches the ground – how deep it gets, how far it spreads, when it arrives and how long it stays at a specific warehouse, hospital or substation. Without that, a storm warning is hard to act on, so operations end up evacuating too early, too late or not at all. And the damage rarely stops at the building: lost inventory, halted production, broken supply chains and stranded staff can cause disruption long after the water has receded.

“Flooding causes the greatest economic harm to society of any natural disaster, and it will only get worse. Climate change has been tearing cities apart, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” states Torland.

Realtime Flood Prediction translates the latest weather forecasts into site-specific flood depth, extent, timing and duration up to 72 hours ahead, updated hourly. The physics-based, AI-powered solution covers rainfall-driven, flash, river and storm surge flooding for a single site or an entire portfolio, all in one view.

“Real-time monitoring and accurate prediction are key to tackling the higher risk of flooding, protecting the environment and ultimately saving lives,” explains Torland.

Businesses can use the information to secure sites and inventory before the water rises, reroute supplies, staff and customers to keep operating, and keep employees, clients and stakeholders informed. Municipalities can take emergency measures to secure the safety of residents and infrastructure.

Homeowners benefit as well. “A weather forecast tells you how much rain you can expect in the coming days. But what if you turn that information into how much water may accumulate at your doorstep tomorrow morning?” he adds.

Realtime Flood Prediction spares humans from potential injury, death and economic loss, while reducing damage to housing and infrastructure. “Flooding is the costliest type of natural disaster,” says Torland. With Realtime Flood Prediction, damage can be reduced by up to 90 per cent, saving millions of dollars in losses.

The value is clearest where conventional flood maps fall short. When Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024, flooding along the Swannanoa River in East Asheville, North Carolina, reached far beyond FEMA’s official flood hazard zones. Businesses in areas classified as low or moderate risk faced inventory losses, inaccessible sites and prolonged closures. Building-level alerts in the days before such an event give emergency managers time to act – and help owners of large portfolios decide which sites to prioritise first.

Customers confirm the value. “We find the analysis very accurate. We really love the solution,” says a business continuity specialist at a US healthcare provider.

Early warning can also help prevent direct and indirect harm to the environment, including areas of high biodiversity value.

Moreover, Realtime Flood Prediction can minimise carbon emissions from future construction. “Fewer buildings will need to be rebuilt or repaired, which is very demanding on the climate,” explains Torland.

The market for Realtime Flood Prediction spans the globe, anywhere there is a flood risk. 7Analytics has built a strong base in the Nordics and the US, where emergency managers in industries such as energy, healthcare and retail benefit from the 72-hour flood outlook. The company is now expanding into more industries and more markets, as flooding is clearly a global and growing challenge.

Its focus is on organisations that run sites and portfolios in flood-exposed locations – from warehouses and hospitals to power substations – where continuity and safety are critical. The perfect start came already in May 2023, when 7Analytics and StormGeo, a Norwegian weather intelligence company, secured their first commercial partnership with TotalEnergies in Houston, Texas, to provide 24/7 flood risk monitoring.

“This was a major technological innovation and a huge market leap for us,” states Torland.

That first partnership opened the door to the US market and became a steppingstone for global impact. “A solution like ours is needed in every country throughout the world – because heavy rainfall and flooding affect us all,” concludes Torland.

7Analytics also offers a Pluvial Flood Index for insurance companies.