Forecasting the inundation of postfire debris flows

In the semi-arid regions of western United States, postfire debris flows are typically runoff generated. The U.S. Geological Survey has been studying mechanisms debris-flow initiation for multiple decades to generate operational models forecasting timing, location, and magnitude flows. Here we discuss challenges progress extending capabilities include modeling inundation extent. Analysis volume impacted area scaling relationships indicated that do not conform assumptions geometric self-similarity. We documented sensitivity areas rainfall intensity using a candidate methodology generating hazard assessments. Our results emphasize importance direct measurements volume, inundated area, high temporal resolution intensity.