Rainfall-Runoff Simulation and Modelling Using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS Models: Case Study Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Flooding regimes in arid regions are heavily influenced by climate change, water shortage, water regulations, and increased water demands. The low amount of annual precipitation due to the desert climate may lead to false estimations of flooding hazards. This study analyzed flash floods caused by short-intense rainstorms. The objective of this study was to determine flood risk related to identified precipitation depths. The project quantized the runoff corresponding to different design storms and used hydraulics and geospatial data to determine flood elevations. The study constructed hydrologic and hydraulic models to quantify flood hazards in the adjacent area of Wadi Abu Nashayfah. Peak discharges for the wadi were computed by using observed rainfall data, and the output of this process was applied to compute water surface elevations within the flow channel. At upstream, there is a high potential of flooding when Wadi Abu Nashayfah receives a minimum of 25 mm of rain which generates 40.60 m/s of peak discharge, thus, at this point the stream will overtop its banks and risking the adjacent area. In the second case, flow will overtop its banks when the channel receives at least 35 mm of rain and peak discharge level to 67.20 m/s. While flow will reach bank full point if wadi Abu Nashayfah receives 10.00 mm of rain and generates 14.80 m/s of streams downstream. The depth of precipitation at which the channel was overtopped was determined in several locations. The predicted overtopping was compared to historic events with good agreement.