Update of early warning indicators of flash floods: a case study of Hunjiang District, Northeastern China

The China flash flood investigation and evaluation database (CFFIED) covers important information needed for China’s flash flood warning.

This paper uses a statistical induction method, inference formula method and standardized unit hydrograph method to explore its principle, characteristics, and key steps. Then based on the field investigation and the latest data on the flash flood, the Hunjiang District in northeastern China was selected as the research area.

Firstly, three typical riverside villages, Xiangmo-1 and Sanchahe-3, Shangqing-4, were screened, and the flash flood warning indicators (e.g., water level, flow rate, critical rainfall) in the CFFIED were updated. Then, the maximum error of the flood peak, estimated by the inference formula method and the water level flow relationship method, is only 10.6%, which indicates that the predicted flood peak flow has high credibility and can check and identify the early warning index; the Manning formula is more accurate in calculating the water level flow relationship. However, the calculated ratio is lower and the roughness is higher, and the flow is smaller under the same water level. Finally, the updated flash flood warning indicators were obtained in the Hunjiang District, which improves the accuracy of the flash flood warning, and provides a reference for updating the early warning indicators in other areas.