Overview of the FEH Web Service

The FEH Web Service delivers catchment descriptors and rainfall data to support the methods outlined in the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) and subsequent updates, for estimating floods and site runoff rates across the UK.

Click here to go to the FEH Web Service What's New Window.

The data

For any catchment above 0.5 km²:

  • Catchment descriptors for flood estimation
  • Rainfall rarity/depth data using the FEH22 or FEH13 rainfall depth-duration-frequency (DDF) model (the legacy FEH99 data is also available for catchments)

For any point on the map:

  • Point descriptors for plot scale runoff rate estimation
  • Rainfall rarity/depth data using the FEH22 or FEH13 DDF model (the legacy FEH99 data is not available for points)

Main features

  • A modern web-based map interface with detailed Ordnance Survey mapping at a variety of scales ranging from 1:250,000 to 1:10,000
  • Search by place name and coordinates
  • Search for and view NRFA gauging stations
  • View and export catchment/point descriptors and rainfall in different formats compatible with tools such as ReFH2 and WINFAP
  • View and export catchment boundaries as ESRI shape files
  • Pay-as-you-go credit system for individual users or organisational groups

Flood Estimation Handbook

The Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) gives guidance on estimating rainfall and river flood frequency in the UK and outlines methods for assessing the rarity of notable rainfalls or floods.

The FEH is the industry standard for estimating local flood risk and developing resilient infrastructure. The five-volume set was originally published in 1999 by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and was reprinted in 2008.

A free downloadable version is available:

You can purchase a hardcopy via Wallingford HydroSolutions on behalf of UKCEH.

The FEH is an evolving programme of research. There have been important method updates since its first publication.

The descriptions of the latest version of the FEH statistical procedures for flood frequency estimation available through the WINFAP software are published in the Joint Defra / Environment Agency 2008 Science Report, ‘Improving the FEH Statistical Procedures for Flood Frequency Estimation’. Further information can be found in the WINFAP Technical Guidance.

The restated FSR rainfall runoff model method has been superseded by the Revitalised Flood Hydrograph ReFH 2 software package. The original method background to ReFH is published within the FEH Supplementary Report No. 1 and latest method updates within the ReFH 2 Technical Guidance. The original FEH rainfall frequency models were also updated in 2013 and 2022 - see DDF Science Overview.