Gouffre Berger flooding patterns

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General advice

Cavers that have problems are usually the ones that camp on the way in. They loose touch with the weather on the surface. If it has not rained for a few hours before you go in, you can be clear of the Cascades within the 5 hour prediction window.

Flooding patterns

After one hour of (heavy) rain

The entrance series floods with a surprisingly large amount of water.

Cairn Pitch: Water knocks stones down: try rigging the rope well clear of the water.
The Meanders: Flood pulse up to 1 metre high: safe in most places due to height above bottom of Meanders. If worried, take higher route early on.
Puits Aldo: Completely impassable: don't fight it. Can also second-flood-pulse in extreme conditions, with water cascading over the top.

1 hour after rain stops, water levels return to normal.

After 4-5 hours

Main cave floods with flood patterns matching rainfall patterns, although water levels may take as much as 10 hours to drop after the rain has stopped. Water levels may remain elevated, though not in flood, for at least a day.

Starless River Passage: May be awkward: if the river cannot be crossed where necessary, don't try.
Lac Cadoux: Rises taking about 45 minutes to fill: use a dinghy. It will empty after a couple of days with no rain.
The cascades between Camps I and II: Can become lethal very quickly: do not try to fight the water. If the river cannot be followed where necessary, don't try.
Lower streamway pitches: Can become 'sporting': take care and sit out the flood if you are worried.
Flat out section above Little Monkey: Can become extreme hazzard: sit out the flood on the stal banks.
Hurricane Pitch: Can become dangerous but passable: take care and sit out the flood if you are worried.
Below -1075 m: Extremely dangerous: try never to get caught here, there is little chance of escape.

After 12 hours of persistent, very heavy rain

Main cave floods to extremely dangerous levels

Canals: If rainstorms have been heavy over the last few days, these can sump: you should not be here anyway but if you are, there is very little you can do. You can climb above the canals in some places.
The cascades between Camps I and II: Nowhere left to hide: you should not be here anyway but if you are, climb as high as you can and say a prayer to your favourite angel.