SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTING PROGRAMME TO OPEN UP NEW COLLABORATION IN AFRICA.

 

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 14 May 2024.

Chairperson of Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) Board, Hon. Judge Mshibe Ali Bakari urged for more collaboration among National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Eastern Africa countries to promote innovation and collaboration in addressing challenges facing effectiveness in early warning services specifically forecasting of severe weather events. “I really encourage NMHSs to consider collaborating among yourselves to harness available capacities in our respective countries in ensuring that we achieve the goal of attaining effective early warning services in line with the ‘United Nations Early Warning for All initiative”. Said Hon. Mshibe during the opening ceremony of the Meeting of the Regional Sub-programme Management Team (RSMT) of Severe Weather Forecasting Programme for Eastern Africa (SWFP-EA), on 14 -17 May 2024, Four Points, Dar es Salaam.

He also commented on the role of local capacities and collaboration as the key to complement the global guidance products in enhancing the capacity of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres and National Meteorological Hydrological Services in provision of improved products and quality services.   

The Acting Director of TMA -Zanzibar Office , Mr. Masoud Faki who represented the Acting Director General of TMA  said, among the benefits that TMA acquired through the implementation of Severe Weather Forecasting Programme are Weather Forecast Guidance products from the Contributing Global and Regional Meteorological Centers which have demonstrated to be highly useful in preparation of National level weather forecasts through the cascading approach involving downscaling to the national domain.

“TMA has been given the role by WMO to oversee activities of the “Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre – Dar es Salaam (RSMC-Dar es Salaam)” with the responsibilities of preparing and issuing severe weather forecast guidance products for the Lake Victoria basin for use by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Eastern African countries around Lake Victoria basin”, Explained Mr. Masoud.

On the other hand, Representatives of WMO Secretariat Dr. Ata Hussain expressed his sincere appreciation to the United Republic of Tanzania for hosting important gathering which seeks to improve early warning services, specifically forecasting of severe weather events in Eastern African countries with the aim of reducing fatalities associated with weather hazards. This meeting is therefore of vital importance to the work of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NHMSs) in enhancing Early Warning Services delivery, particularly Severe Weather Forecasting to support Disaster Risk Reduction in the Eastern Africa Sub-region in line with the “United Nations’ Early Warning for All” initiative.

Participants were from Tanzania, Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Djibouti, Somalia, South Sudan and other experts from Contributing World Meteorological Centres -WMCs and Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres -RSMCs.