It could have come worse – an analysis of spatial counterfactual scenarios for the July 2021 flood in the Ahr Valley, Germany

After a flood disaster, the question often arises: “What if the event had gone differently?” For example, what would be the effects of a flood if the path of a pressure system and thus the precipitation field had occurred taken a different trajectory? The analysis of such alternative scenarios of precipitation footprints (“counterfactuals”) is a valuable approach for flood risk management in addition to classical extreme value statistical analyses. It helps to think about and prepare for extremes that have not occurred in this way, but which appear quite plausible.

Here, we analyze the spatial alternative scenarios of the deadly July 2021 flood in the Ahr Valley, Germany. The hydrological model mHM is driven with precipitation fields systematically shifted in space. The resulting runoff is transformed into inundation and flood impact indicators using the high-resolution hydrodynamic model RIM2D.

The results show that even a slight shift of the precipitation field by 15-20 km, which does not seem implausible due to orographic conditions, causes an increase in peak flows at the Altenahr gauge of over 30% and at individual tributaries of up to 160%. Also, significantly larger flood volumes can be expected due to precipitation shifts. This results in markable differences in inundation depths in a number of areas along the Ahr river valley. The presented results should encourage critical thinking about precautionary measures and risk management plans for extreme and unprecedented events.