TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The international hydrological community gathered in Tuscaloosa for the 2025 HEPEX Conference, marking two decades of advancements in ensemble hydrological forecasting. Hosted by The University of Alabama’s Alabama Water Institute (AWI) and the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the event highlighted the region’s growing prominence as a center for water research and innovation.
The conference brought together leading scientists, operational forecasters and decision-makers to discuss the latest breakthroughs in probabilistic streamflow forecasting, AI-driven modeling and the future of hydrological services.
Global Experts Drive the Conversation on Water Prediction
Keynote speakers addressed both the progress and challenges ahead for hydrological forecasting.
- Rob Hartman, former Hydrologist in Charge at the NWS California-Nevada River Forecast Center, reflected on HEPEX’s grassroots evolution and its role in mainstreaming ensemble-based forecasting.
- Hwirin Kim, head of the Hydrological and Water Resources Service Section at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), outlined global efforts to enhance flood forecasting systems and the integration of emerging technologies, including AI and digital twins.
- Stefan Uhlenbrook, head of WMO’s Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere branch, presented on strengthening early warning systems to build resilience against increasing flood and drought risks.
- Jonathan Frame, assistant professor at The University of Alabama, showcased cutting-edge machine learning techniques that are transforming ensemble hydrologic prediction, improving accuracy and uncertainty quantification.
CIROH Research Takes Center Stage
The conference also spotlighted CIROH’s leadership in advancing hydrological forecasting. Two featured projects demonstrated how CIROH is shaping the next generation of water prediction:
- Sifan A. Koriche presented multi-model evaluations of conceptual functional equivalent models (δ-CFE) alongside the National Water Model, offering improved insights into model performance and uncertainty.
- Xia Feng shared results from hydrologic model performance evaluations within the NextGen framework, demonstrating how CIROH research is directly enhancing the National Water Model’s operational forecasting capabilities.
“Attending HEPEX’s 20th anniversary workshop was an incredible experience,” said Feng. “I appreciate the opportunity to present the work on evaluation of model performance within the NextGen with emphasis on the importance of selection of calibration approach and model structure in affecting streamflow performance.”
Charting the Future of Hydrological Forecasting
Discussions throughout the week reinforced the need for greater collaboration between research and operations (R2O) to accelerate innovation. Panels explored the growing role of AI in hydrological forecasting, advances in probabilistic modeling and strategies for translating forecast uncertainty into actionable insights for infrastructure management and disaster response.
“This pivotal international gathering provides an excellent opportunity to network and connect with a global and diverse community of scientists, forecasters and policymakers to share the latest advances in hydrologic forecasting and water resource services,” continued Feng. “It will foster greater collaboration within the hydrology community and elevate CIROH’s impact on cutting-edge hydrological research and practical applications.”
Tuscaloosa: A Growing Hub for Water Research
As the host city for this year’s HEPEX conference, Tuscaloosa cemented its reputation as a leader in water prediction science. With CIROH and AWI at the forefront, the region is driving advances in water modeling, forecasting and decision support—further solidifying its status as an international hub for hydrological research and practice.
HEPEX 2025: Insights On-Demand
For those who missed the live discussions, select presentations and expert interviews from the HEPEX Conference are now available as podcasts and video recordings. Dive into key topics, including AI-driven hydrological modeling, forecast uncertainty and global collaboration in flood and drought prediction.
Video Highlights: Watch keynote talks and research presentations on cutting-edge forecasting advancements. Click here.
Podcast Episodes: Hear from leading hydrologists and forecasters as they discuss the future of water prediction. Click here.