Vodafone and River Severn Partnership Pilot ‘Network-as-a-Sensor’ to Enhance Rainfall Forecasting

Vodafone is teaming up with the River Severn Partnership’s Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) and Wireless DNA to leverage its mobile network for more accurate short-term rainfall forecasting, known as nowcasting. The trial, taking place across the River Severn catchment area, aims to strengthen long-term resilience for local communities and the environment by improving rainfall prediction in real time.

The River Severn area has a long history of flooding, with significant events in recent decades causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, as well as disrupting travel. In total, around £230 million is spent annually to manage the impact of floods in the region.

This partnership will turn Vodafone’s mobile network into a powerful environmental sensor, monitoring rainfall by detecting changes in electromagnetic waves. These waves, which are sensitive to precipitation, are disrupted by moisture in the air, affecting the wireless link between masts. In this way, microwave links can serve as virtual rain gauges, providing highly accurate, localized rainfall data.

Wireless DNA will track these signal variations caused by precipitation and share the findings with the River Severn Partnership. This data will enhance existing flood early warning systems and improve flood defences for local residents, providing an extra layer of insights to supplement conventional forecasting methods such as radar and rain gauges.

By using Vodafone’s mobile network, this initiative offers more detailed and localized forecasting than traditional systems, which can improve the accuracy of weather predictions at a ground level.

Matt Smith, Programme Manager at RSPAWIR, commented: “The River Severn Partnership is dedicated to making the Severn, Wye, Warwickshire Avon, and Teme rivers the most vibrant and resilient river network. This collaboration with Vodafone is a perfect match for our strategic objectives. By improving weather forecasting, we can better prepare for flooding, boost resilience, and protect the health and livelihoods of our communities.”

Nick Gliddon, Director of Vodafone Business UK, added: “As storms and extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, this collaboration with the River Severn Partnership is a prime example of how we can use cutting-edge technology to improve weather forecasting. By tapping into our mobile network’s capabilities, we can help mitigate the impact of extreme weather not just in the River Severn area but across communities nationwide.”