Met Office shares impact-based forecasting expertise at Understanding Risk Forum 2016
Weather forecasts provide the public, businesses and governments with information which could impact their daily lives, operations and preparedness, and the information within these forecasts is particularly crucial in the face of severe weather. The Met Office’s impact-based forecasts add value by increasing the users’ understanding of the impact the weather could have, encouraging them to take action when and where appropriate.
Last week’s Understanding Risk Forum in Venice provided an opportunity to share the principles of impact-based forecasting with the wider international development community. Global strategic partnerships manager Nyree Pinder delivered an Ignite presentation (http://bit.ly/1TJ0gw8) on the subject, preceding a technical session on Friday involving chief meteorologist Paul Davies and representatives from the Red Cross Climate Centre in Mozambique and the Disaster Risk Management Authority of the Philippines. The session was moderated by Deltares and supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery with whom we partner to work with the World Meteorological Organization on how impact-based forecasting can support improved meteorological services worldwide.
“The event provided an excellent opportunity to discuss global programmes with international organisations, and to share our experiences of impact-based forecasting. Our global finance strategic account manager Nick Moody was also able to discuss Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance and our provision of weather and climate science to the global reinsurance market”, commented Nyree.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 prioritises preventing and reducing existing disaster risks, and we work with partners around the globe to share best practice and encourage innovation. As well as working with funding organisations, the UK government and international organisations, this work also includes partnering with national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs) around the world.
The Met Office works closely with national meteorological and hydrological services to improve their service delivery and enable them to deal successfully with weather and climate-related impacts and natural disasters. Effective meteorological and hydrological services strengthen nations’ preparedness, well-being, prosperity and prospects for growth.