Precipitation extremes during flooding in the Odra River Basin in May-June 2010

Flooding in East-Central Europe in May and June 2010 also affected the Odra River Basin. Unlike a typical summer flood scenario, in 2010 intensive precipitation was observed as early as May. Also, the location of the most intensive rainfall shifted to the catchments of the right bank tributaries of the Odra River. This paper presents the climatological assessment of the precipitation totals that caused two flood waves on the Odra River. The assessment was carried out with the use of selected indicators: monthly precipitation totals, daily precipitation totals, number of days exceeding given precipitation levels, number of days with precipitation of a given probability of exceedance and intensity, duration and accumulation of precipitation for a number of consecutive wet days. The reference values for climatological indicators were developed for the period 1966-2009. The values of the selected indicators were analyzed in terms of flood hazard in relation to the hazard gradation. The results show that the observed precipitation had the character of an extreme event with respect to its magnitude, duration and spatial extent. The catchments with recognized high levels of flood hazard were affected by the flood wave. The flood situation caused by the extreme precipitation was evaluated in the context of the largest floods in this region during recent decades.