Tidal and Storm Surge Forecast Service Forecast Periods 4-9 Forecasts

Abstract: This dataset provides the forecast output csv files for the relevant forecast location points for Periods 4 to 9 of the Tidal and Storm Surge Forecasting Service for the Coast of Ireland. They do not cover all points for which a visual forecast was produced and the exact points vary from period to period to reflect development of the system. It is important to emphasise that for period 10, the forecast point naming was changed and the reference used in Periods 4 to 9 may differ from that used in Period 10 for the same point. The csv files were produced daily for each forecast point in the am and extend for a period of 72 hours from their start point (00:00UTC). The files contain forecasts of surge in m, total water level in m OD Malin and astronomic tide in m (relative to Chat Datum) at 15 minute intervals. They also contain details of the forecast point location and the date and time of forecast generation. The forecast data was produced from a hydrodynamic model using best available bathymetry, output from a tidal model as a boundary condition and operational weather forecast data as a forcing condition. Hence the forecast output will be affected by deviations between the weather forecast and actual weather. The Tidal and Storm Surge Forecasting Service was intended to provide information for Local Authorities, and other relevant stakeholders, to enable them to make informed decisions on the management of coastal flood risk. Three forecasts were produced daily, two morning forecasts looking 72 and 144 hours ahead and an evening forecast looking 72 hours ahead.

Lineage: This dataset provides the forecast output csv files for the relevant forecast location points for Periods 1 to 9 of the Tidal and Storm Surge Forecasting Service for the Coast of Ireland. The csv files were produced directly from the forecast model runs and are based on the available weather forecast data at time of run. It should be noted that as each forecast is 72 hours long and new csv files were produced every 24 hours, any single period will be covered by 3 forecast files. It would be expected that forecasts produced closer to the time of interest will be more accurate to reflect improved weather forecasts.

Purpose: The Tidal and Storm Surge Forecasting Service for the Coast of Ireland was intended to provide information for Local Authorities and other relevant stakeholders to enable them to make informed decisions on the management of coastal flood risk. Three forecasts were produced daily, two morning forecasts looking 72 and 144 hours ahead and an evening forecast looking 72 hours ahead. Forecasts were provided at up to 57 forecasting points, 15 National Points around the coast of Ireland and five more detailed local forecasting areas at Dundalk Bay, Wexford Harbour, Cork Harbour, Shannon Estuary and Galway Bay, with the exact numbers at any time depending on the level of model development.