A New Local Flood Awareness Tool for Blackrock

FloodwatchOver the past number of weeks, many people in Blackrock will have noticed how sensitive the seafront can be during certain tides and weather conditions. Even when there isn’t a major storm, very high tides can sometimes lead to overtopping along the promenade.

In response to this, a new local pilot system called FloodWatch has been developed and is now live on VisitBlackrock.ie.

What is FloodWatch?

FloodWatch is a coastal flood awareness tool, designed to help people understand when conditions are more sensitive, particularly around high tides.

It works by combining:

  • Met Éireann weather warnings

  • Tide timing and tide height data

  • A locally tuned algorithm that looks at how these factors overlap

Rather than predicting flooding, FloodWatch highlights periods of increased risk awareness, especially when very high tides coincide with unsettled weather.

Why is this useful?

Blackrock’s seafront can be affected by:

  • exceptionally high tides

  • water backing up through drains

  • overtopping during certain tidal conditions

FloodWatch helps by:

  • showing the next high tide

  • indicating when conditions are most sensitive

  • giving a simple status such as Normal, Alert, or Urgent

This makes it easier for residents, businesses, walkers, and visitors to check conditions at a glance.

What do the FloodWatch alerts mean?

  • Normal – Typical coastal conditions. No action needed.

  • Heads-up / Alert – Weather warnings or tide timing suggest increased sensitivity.

  • Urgent – A very high, rising tide overlaps with weather conditions. Overtopping or localised flooding is possible, but not guaranteed.

It’s important to note that FloodWatch may show an Urgent status even on calm days if the tide itself is exceptionally high.

Is this an official warning system?

No. FloodWatch is not an emergency alert service and does not replace official warnings from Met Éireann or advice from emergency services.

It is an early-stage pilot, designed to improve local awareness and help people make informed decisions.

Built locally, evolving over time

FloodWatch was developed by Jascom Ltd, a Blackrock-based digital company, in direct response to recent coastal conditions observed in the village. The system was built quickly and will continue to evolve as it’s tested in real-world situations.

Feedback from the community will help shape future improvements.

Where can I see it?

FloodWatch is now live on VisitBlackrock.ie and can be checked at any time for the latest status and upcoming tide information.

FloodWatch