These field offices are administratively and technically supported by Regional and National headquarters. Technical support and interaction with supported and supporting NWS offices. Technical support and interaction with outside water management agencies and users. Applied research, development, and technological implementation to facilitate and support the above functions. This area, of approximately 245,000 square miles, exhibits extreme variation in hydrologic regimes, supports large population centers, and is highly environmentally sensitive.
Extreme pressure is placed on the areas water resources.
In addition, many of these flash flood prone areas are among the most heavily populated in the country. The NWS defines a flash flood as a flood event which occurs within 6 hours of the causative event. The rapid and often localized development of these events requires real time assessment and immediate public warning. As such, the responsibility for public flash flood watches and warnings rests with the continuously staffed WFOs. The systems consist of automated event-reporting rain and river gages and a computer system that analyzes current and developing hydrologic conditions.