RAIN PLUS LIMITED
Rain Plus Limited, operating as Rain++, is a UK-based hydrometeorological analytics firm founded by a team of engineers and mathematicians including Dr.
Profile
They turn rainfall data into flood and drought risk forecasts using advanced math and computing.
Rain Plus Limited, operating as Rain++, is a UK-based hydrometeorological analytics firm founded by a team of engineers and mathematicians including Dr. Susana Ochoa-Rodríguez, Dr. Christian Onof, and Dr.
James Lau. The company specializes in advanced rainfall estimation and forecasting solutions, leveraging stochastic methods, geostatistics, and machine learning to process data from multiple sensors. Rain++ targets water resource managers, insurance firms, and agricultural planners with tools that convert raw rainfall data into actionable metrics.
Their core techniques include spatial-temporal downscaling and short-term weather forecasting, which are deployed either as standalone services or embedded within client systems. The firm has positioned itself as a niche player in climate resilience, particularly in regions prone to flooding or drought. While financial disclosures are not public, their client base appears concentrated in Europe and North America, with project work spanning weather insurance design to operational system implementation. Recent atmospheric river events in the Pacific Northwest (December 2025) and Thames Water's funding crisis (February 2026) underscore growing demand for their flood prediction capabilities.
Who buys this
- Water utility companies managing reservoir levels and drainage
- Agricultural cooperatives optimizing irrigation schedules
- Reinsurance firms developing weather-linked financial products
- Municipal flood control departments
- Climate research institutions
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Proprietary geostatistical methods for multi-sensor data fusion, cited in their technical documentation
- Academic pedigree with core team holding PhDs in hydrology and applied mathematics
- Modular deployment options allowing integration with legacy water management systems
Watch for
- Heavy reliance on public sector contracts vulnerable to budget cuts, as seen in Thames Water's liquidity crisis
- No disclosed major insurance or utility clients despite positioning in that market
- Potential scalability challenges with bespoke project work dominating their portfolio
Key Information
- Founded
- 2016
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rain Plus Limited do?
Rain Plus Limited (Rain++) transforms rainfall data into flood and drought risk forecasts using advanced mathematical modeling. The UK-based firm combines stochastic methods, geostatistics, and machine learning to help water managers, insurers, and farmers make data-driven decisions about water resources and climate risks.
How does Rain++ predict flood risks?
Rain++ processes multi-sensor rainfall data using spatial-temporal downscaling and short-term weather forecasting techniques. Their proprietary geostatistical methods fuse disparate data sources to create accurate flood models, particularly useful for utilities and municipalities in flood-prone regions like the Pacific Northwest.
Who uses Rain Plus Limited's services?
Primary clients include water utilities managing drainage, agricultural cooperatives optimizing irrigation, reinsurance firms developing weather-linked products, and municipal flood departments. Their tools help these sectors convert raw rainfall data into actionable metrics for operational planning and risk assessment.
What makes Rain++ different from other weather analytics firms?
Rain++ distinguishes itself through academic expertise (PhD-led team), modular system integration capabilities, and specialized focus on stochastic rainfall modeling. Their niche approach targets specific hydrological challenges rather than general weather forecasting, particularly for climate resilience applications.
Can Rain++ help with agricultural drought planning?
Yes, Rain++ provides drought risk forecasts that help agricultural planners optimize irrigation schedules. Their rainfall estimation tools analyze historical and real-time data to predict water shortages, enabling farms and cooperatives to mitigate crop losses during dry periods.
What are the limitations of Rain Plus Limited's approach?
Rain++ faces challenges including reliance on public sector contracts vulnerable to budget cuts, undisclosed major clients in key markets, and scalability constraints from project-based work. Their bespoke solutions may limit broad adoption compared to standardized weather analytics platforms.
Sources
- www.rainplusplus.com — Core product descriptions and team backgrounds
- www.reuters.com — Market context on Pacific Northwest flooding events
- www.reuters.com — Regulatory pressures on water utilities as potential clients
- www.linkedin.com — Indirect evidence of competitive positioning in climate tech marketing