Oberberg receives 1.9 million euros for KIRa-Berg flood warning project

The Oberbergischer Kreis and its partners have been awarded approximately 1.91 million euros in funding for the KIRa-Berg project, an innovative flood prevention initiative. Approved by the Bezirksregierung Köln, the project aims to improve early warning capabilities for flash floods and heavy rainfall in the Agger and Wupper river catchment areas.

The technical core of the project involves installing two advanced X-Band radar devices. Unlike standard weather radar systems used by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), these sensors can measure precipitation at much lower altitudes and with higher frequency, providing greater spatial and temporal precision.

Researchers from the University of Bonn and TH Köln will support the project, which intends to integrate this high-resolution data into existing DWD warning systems using artificial intelligence. The AI model will combine precipitation data with existing river flood levels to perform rapid simulations of flooding scenarios. The goal is to gain critical minutes of warning time and establish a legally sound basis for official weather warnings. Installation of the radar equipment is expected to be completed by mid-2027.