Know before the water rises
FloodSight uses machine learning and live weather data to predict where flooding is most likely in Lagos — giving residents, responders, and planners hours of advance notice.
See every street, every risk level
The map below shows flood risk across Lagos in real time. Taller columns mean higher risk. Red cells are under active flood warning right now. Alert colours factor in both observed rainfall from the last 24 hours and the upcoming 48-hour forecast. Click any cell for details.
What does rainfall actually mean?
Weather forecasts use millimetres (mm) to measure rain — but that means nothing to most people. Here's what each level feels like on the ground in Lagos.
Barely Any Rain
A few stray drops. You won't need an umbrella. Streets stay dry.
Light Shower
A brief afternoon drizzle. Puddles form quickly but drain within minutes.
Steady Rain
A proper rainy afternoon. Surface water on some roads. Low-lying spots may be soggy.
Heavy Downpour
A serious Lagos storm. Gutters overflow. High-risk areas begin to flood. Drive carefully.
Very Heavy Rain
Many roads flood. Vehicles get stranded. Avoid driving unless essential.
Extreme Rainfall
Among the worst Lagos sees. Severe flooding across the city. Stay home if possible.
What should I do?
FloodSight issues three levels of alert based on the combination of your area's flood risk and how much rain is expected.
Conditions Are Safe
Rainfall is too light to trigger flooding in high-risk areas. Conditions are safe across all 15 monitored LGAs.
- Go about your day normally
- Check again after heavy rain begins
- Know your nearest high ground just in case
Stay Alert
Flooding is possible in elevated-risk areas, especially where drainage is poor. Stay alert and be ready to act.
- Avoid parking in low-lying streets
- Keep valuables off the ground floor
- Monitor conditions — they may worsen
- Know your evacuation route
Act Now
Flooding is expected in high and very-high risk areas. Take protective action now. Do not wait for water to arrive.
- Move to higher ground immediately
- Do not drive through flooded roads
- Disconnect electrical appliances
- Contact emergency services if trapped: 112
How FloodSight works
Four steps — from raw data to an alert on your phone — running automatically every morning.
Terrain Analysis
We mapped every 100m² of Lagos using satellite elevation data, drainage patterns, and distance to water bodies.
Machine Learning
A trained ML model scores each grid cell's inherent flood susceptibility — independent of any rainfall event.
Dual-Stream Rainfall
We combine what has already fallen (last 24h, via NOAA GFS weather analysis) with what is coming (72h NOAA GFS forecast) — because saturated ground floods faster even in moderate rain.
Morning Briefing
Every morning at 6am WAT, an automated SMS briefing is sent to registered responders with the day's flood outlook.
FloodSight's track record
We tested FloodSight against eight documented Lagos flood events using actual historical rainfall recorded by weather satellites. Here's how it performed.
| Event | Actual rain (day) | Actual rain (3 days) | Documented | FloodSight predicted | % cells warned | Match |
|---|
Rainfall data: Open-Meteo via NOAA GFS analysis (past 24h) + GFS forecast (72h). FloodSight is considered "correct" if it issued Warning or Watch for any documented Warning event. Sources: NEMA, LASEMA, Lagos State Government situation reports.
Get warned before the water rises
Sign up for free SMS flood alerts for your neighbourhood. When FloodSight issues a Watch or Warning for your area, you'll receive a text so you can act — before roads flood and options narrow.
- Hyperlocal — alerts are specific to your street's risk level, not generic city warnings
- Updated hourly using live rainfall data from satellite and weather models
- Free SMS — no app, no internet needed to receive alerts
Subscribe for free
Alerts sent only during active Watch or Warning events. Reply STOP at any time to opt out. Privacy Policy
Bring FloodSight to your community
FloodSight is an active research project by Rankine Innovation Lab. We are working with local government, NGOs, and community leaders to expand coverage across Lagos and beyond. Get in touch to discuss partnership, data access, or funding.