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Source: World Meteorological Organization | Apr 12, 2022

Climate change increased extreme rainfall in Southeast Africa storms

The World Weather Attribution analysis shows that climate change made the events worse

Climate change made extreme rainfall heavier and more damaging during five back-to-back storms in January and February in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique, according to rapid attribution analysis by an international team of leading climate scientists. More than a million people were affected, with 230 reported deaths. The World Weather Attribution analysis…

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- Saving lives on Lake Victoria - High impact weather Lake System (HIGHWAY) project
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- Early warnings protect lives on Africa’s Lake Victoria
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Source: World Meteorological Organization | Mar 29, 2021

Early warnings protect lives on Africa’s Lake Victoria

The Lake Victoria Basin supports approximately 25% of the surrounding population

A successful four-year project in East Africa has demonstrated how improved weather, water and climate services save lives and livelihoods and support socio-economic development of vulnerable communities. The High Impact Weather Lake System (HIGHWAY) project (https://bit.ly/2P76Mrx) established a pilot regional Early Warning System to inform fisherfolk and other local stakeholders…

Source: World Meteorological Organization | Jul 28, 2020

Coronavirus: Symposium considers role of weather, climate and environmental factors in COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally, within a wide range of climates and seasonal and environmental settings

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and international science partners are hosting a virtual global symposium from 4 to 6 August to review the relationship between weather, climate and environmental factors and the spread of COVID-19. The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally, within a wide range of climates and…

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- Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 impacts observing system
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Source: World Meteorological Organization | May 07, 2020

Coronavirus - Africa: COVID-19 impacts observing system

Surface-based weather observations are in decline, especially in Africa and parts of Central and South America where many stations are manual rather than automatic

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is concerned about the increasing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quantity and quality of weather observations and forecasts, as well as atmospheric and climate monitoring. Meteorological measurements taken from aircraft have plummeted by an average 75-80% compared to normal, but with very large…

Source: World Meteorological Organization | Jan 21, 2020

Heavy rains contribute to desert locust crisis in East Africa

The Desert Locust outbreak is destroying crops and pasture across eastern Ethiopia and neighbouring areas of Somalia, parts of Sudan, Eritrea and northern Kenya

Unusual weather and climate conditions, including widespread and heavy rains since October 2019, have contributed to a serious and widespread Desert locust outbreak, which threatening rural food security across East Africa. The Food and Agricultural Organization describes it as the worst situation in 25 years. The Food and Security and…

Source: World Meteorological Organization | Oct 24, 2019

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) calls for protection of radio frequencies vital to weather forecasts

Thanks to timely weather warnings, there has been a big reduction in the loss of life during recent decades

The World Meteorological Organization is calling on governments to protect radio frequencies allocated to Earth observation services which are vital for weather forecasts and long-term climate change monitoring. Decisions with major repercussions for Earth exploration, environmental monitoring and meteorological satellite operation will be made at the World Radiocommunication Conference from…

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- Urgency of climate action highlighted for U.N. Summit preparatory meeting
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Source: World Meteorological Organization | Jun 28, 2019

Urgency of climate action highlighted for U.N. Summit preparatory meeting

Drought has triggered food insecurity in the Greater Horn of Africa, whilst southeast Africa is still recovering from devastating tropical cyclones

Earth is set to experience its five warmest years on record from 2015-2019, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Increasing greenhouse gas concentrations will fuel the global heat – and accompanying ice melt, glacier retreat, sea level rise, ocean heat and extreme weather for generations to come. The…

Source: World Meteorological Organization | May 29, 2019

Mozambique cyclones are “wake-up call,” says World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

A fact-finding mission sent to Mozambique by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recommends a package of disaster risk reduction priorities

Fact-finding mission makes recommendations for future resilience The devastation caused by cyclones Idai and Kenneth which hit Mozambique within the space of a few weeks is a wake-up call about more high-impact tropical cyclones, coastal flooding and intense rainfall linked to climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).…

Source: World Meterological Organization | May 17, 2019

Global platform on disaster risk reduction: we need a drastic change of course

This year, tropical cyclone Idai left more than 1000 people dead in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi

The impacts of climate change, associated sea level rise and extreme weather are amplifying as a result of record greenhouse gas levels and combining with urbanization, environmental degradation and water stress to produce interlocking crises. There needs to be a drastic change of course, according to the top global forum…