Floods affect European regions in diverse ways, from sudden urban flash floods to large-scale riverine events and widespread cross-border crises. ARTEMis examines three complementary flooding contexts to evaluate monitoring systems, forecasting skill, exposure patterns and operational coordination. These cases capture different hydrometeorological drivers, geographic settings and response needs, supporting the development of harmonised, impact-based flood forecasting and improved emergency preparedness across Europe.

 

  1. Flash Floods — Mandra, Attica, Greece (2022)

The Mandra area is highly vulnerable to flash floods due to mountainous terrain, impermeable surfaces and intense Mediterranean storms. ARTEMis evaluates near real-time monitoring via hydrometeorological stations, satellite-derived flood mapping and integrated hydrologic–hydraulic models. Tools such as Meteoview, Floodhub and GIS-based risk assessments support rapid detection of water levels, flood extent and exposure. Population, building and land-value datasets enable refined impact analysis. This case provides a testbed for rapid-onset flood forecasting, highlighting urban planning constraints and the importance of integrated early warning in dense Mediterranean regions.

 

  1. RiverineFlooding — Emilia Romagna, Italy (2023) 

The 2023 Emilia Romagna flood resulted from persistent, clustered heavy rainfall combined with saturated soils and coastal discharge limitations. ARTEMis assesses how riverine flooding evolves at regional scale, affecting cities, infrastructure and agricultural lands. Using ARPAE precipitation and river-level data, the project evaluates hazard forecasts, exposure mapping and vulnerability assessments. The case also highlights strong local preparedness, effective public warnings and large-scale emergency mobilisation. Repeated events in 2023–2024 underscore the need for improved forecasting horizons and better understanding of climate-driven drivers across northern Italy.

  1. Cross-Border Flooding — Austria, Slovenia & Croatia (2023)

In August 2023, severe flooding affected Slovenia, Austria and Croatia, demonstrating the challenges of transnational hazard management. ARTEMis analyses hydrometeorological drivers, infrastructure impacts and emergency workflows across borders. The event caused widespread damage to roads, utilities, buildings and agricultural areas, with multiple communities facing power outages and landslides. Hazard monitoring relied on hydrometeorological observations, reanalysis and satellite data. This use case highlights the importance of interoperable warning systems, cross-border coordination and harmonised impact assessment methods to support joint response and preparedness in multi-country river basins