Launch of Intensive Weather Forecast Testbed in Southern Africa
The WISER EWSA initiative launched an intensive weather forecasting testbed in Zambia from 30 January to 7 February 2025, aiming to enhance weather forecasts and deliver critical information to vulnerable communities. The project follows severe weather incidents caused by cyclones, highlighting southern Africa’s susceptibility to climate-related disasters. The collaboration focuses on improved methodologies, community engagement, and sustainable practices to strengthen early warning systems and mitigate risks.
On 30 January 2025, the second intensive weather forecasting testbed of the WISER EWSA initiative commenced in Lusaka, Zambia, with participation from centers in South Africa and Mozambique. This initiative aims to enhance weather forecasting accuracy while delivering critical forecasts and severe weather warnings to at-risk communities, particularly affected by recent cyclones.
Following the destruction caused by Tropical Cyclones Dikeledi and Chido, which resulted in significant loss of life and property in Madagascar and Mozambique, meteorological experts are convening to address the challenges of severe weather in southern Africa. The region’s susceptibility to hazardous weather events is exacerbated by climate change, making the need for improved forecasting and early warning systems essential.
The testbed involves a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together meteorologists, scientists, and engagement specialists under the WISER initiative’s Early Warnings for Southern Africa (EWSA) project. This intensive event, running from 30 January to 7 February 2025, is part of a larger ongoing testing phase aimed at refining methodologies and enhancing community engagement in the warning process.
Nowcasting offers crucial short-term forecasting, allowing communities to prepare for imminent severe weather, thereby mitigating risks to lives and property. The WISER EWSA project aligns with the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which aspires to secure comprehensive early warning systems internationally by 2027.
Given the increasing frequency of adverse weather patterns, improving forecasting capabilities is vital. As noted by Mr. Ishaam Abader, CEO of the South African Weather Service, the project targets underserved communities while enhancing meteorological expertise. The collaborative effort involves local communities, ensuring that forecasting information is relevant and comprehensible.
According to Dr. Itzel San Roman Pineda, the lead on this testbed, the ownership of nowcasting processes has shifted to local meteorological services, demonstrating a notable increase in their forecasting capabilities. Effective dissemination of nowcasting messages remains a challenge, highlighting the need for prompt and clear communications regarding severe weather developments.
Sustainable nowcasting practices require significant resources and infrastructural support, which can be challenging given existing limitations. The intensive testbed will hold discussions aimed at estimating the socioeconomic benefits of the warnings provided, emphasizing the importance of creating sustainable models for weather forecasting services in Africa.
Volunteer community members contribute essential feedback to enhance the verification of nowcasts, fostering awareness of weather conditions in their communities. The integration of early warning systems with local disaster management efforts strengthens overall response strategies, demonstrating a commitment to reducing disaster risks.
WISER EWSA employs a collaborative approach to strengthen the trust and efficacy of weather information. The initiative aims to shift perceptions so that communities recognize the value of accurate and timely forecasts, ultimately enhancing their resilience to climate-related risks.
Southern Africa has been increasingly vulnerable to severe weather events due to climate change, as evidenced by the recent cyclones that wreaked havoc in the region. The WISER EWSA initiative focuses on improving weather forecasting and early warning capabilities to protect at-risk communities from hazardous weather. This project gathers experts to share knowledge, enhance methodologies, and develop sustainable practices for effective communication of weather information. Testbeds serve as practical platforms for assessing real-world forecasting techniques, emphasizing collaboration between meteorologists and local communities. By actively involving local stakeholders, the initiative aims to ensure the relevance and clarity of forecasts. WISER’s commitment to early warnings aligns with global efforts to secure comprehensive protective measures against climate hazards, ultimately seeking to bolster community resilience and reduce disaster risks in southern Africa.
The intensive weather forecasting testbed initiated by WISER EWSA in Zambia signifies a crucial step towards improving meteorological services and enhancing community preparedness against severe weather threats. The initiative’s collaborative nature, emphasizing local engagement and sustainable practices, aims to deliver timely and accurate forecasts to vulnerable populations. Continuous improvement in forecasting techniques and communication methods is imperative for safeguarding lives and livelihoods amid the growing challenges posed by climate change in southern Africa.
Original Source: www.metoffice.gov.uk
