Early warning

This study introduces the ICLEWS framework and assesses local early warning systems in 2,289 Brazilian municipalities. Results highlight gaps in staffing, financing, social participation and governance, underscoring the need for stronger local capacities.

The disaster exposed a weakness on both sides of Nepal’s warning system: It had no real-time information about the hazard developing in Tibet, while the monitoring equipment it had installed inside Nepal was destroyed before it could send an alert.

This case study of Vietnam’s heat early warning system finds that heat monitoring and forecasting are established, but risk knowledge, preparedness, targeting of warnings and institutional coordination remain limited.

Mobile-based SMS alerts are a key part of Madagascar’s multi-hazard early warning system (EWS), alongside radio, community relay mechanisms, and institutional communication channels.

This report draws on four case studies and insights from the Mobile for Humanitarian Innovation (M4H) programme’s own in-country experience to identity practical lessons for mobile-enabled EWS implementation in low- and middle-income (LMIC) contexts.

The September 2026 GEOGLAM Crop Monitor for Early Warning report provides an overview of global crop conditions with a focus on regions vulnerable to food insecurity.

This paper presents LiveCyc, a machine learning system that converts tropical cyclone forecasts into probabilistic 1-km wind forecasts. Evaluation across 16 U.S. hurricane landfalls shows well-calibrated results and supports optimized warning triggers.

Rajendra Dawadi, who leads Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nuwakot - which has a total student population of just over 1,600 - says he received four warnings from different people within minutes.

A survey of 140 Indonesian operational meteorologists finds that terminology ambiguity and reliance on weather station data hinder heat warning dissemination. Past successful warnings and a liberal warning philosophy strongly influence warning decisions.

Two behavioural experiments in China show that government-issued disaster warnings generate higher trust than AI warnings. Consistent government-AI messages increase trust and protective intentions, while conflicting warnings increase anticipated regret.

The Africa Early Warnings Forum, held from 2 to 4 September 2026, comes at a critical moment for the continent. Since the UN Secretary-General launched EW4All in 2022, calling for universal protection by 2027, significant progress has been achieved.

While an imminent catastrophe is not predicted in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab Valley, recent studies and government assessments suggest that Kishtwar district possesses many of the characteristics that make Himalayan regions vulnerable to such disasters.

A survey of 1,207 households across three severely affected districts (Buner, Shangla, and Swat) revealed that 85 percent of families received no warning before the flood waters arrived. For those that did, half had less than thirty minutes to act.

New research shows the most destructive tsunami from Tonga’s 2022 Hunga eruption was triggered by caldera collapse, not an explosion. The collapse generated detectable underwater sound waves that could help provide earlier warnings of volcanic tsunamis.

This paper identifies transboundary GLODF threats across the Himalayas and projects their future evolution under climate change, highlighting growing risks, hotspots along the China–Nepal border, and the need for stronger monitoring and early warning.

The Africa Early Warnings Forum, held in Addis Ababa, highlighted Africa's progress in expanding early warning systems, but with climate and disaster risks accelerating, the task now is to translate that progress into protection for everyone.

A team analyzed radar data from European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellites acquired between 8 January and 18 August. The last observation was only seven days before the disaster. Images revealed accelerated glacier-rock movement before the collapse.

This study assesses preparedness, response and recovery following Cyclone Ana in Zimbabwe. It finds gaps in preparedness, warning communication and coordination, and calls for community-centred DRM, stronger capacity, financing and contingency planning.

This case study examines the current state of the Philippines’ heat early warning system, including how heat risk is understood and monitored, and how warnings are issued, communicated and acted upon across institutions.

This case study examines the current state of Jordan’s heat early warning system, including how heat risk is understood and monitored, and how warnings are issued, communicated and acted upon across institutions.

This case study examines the current state of Mexico’s heat early warning system, including how heat risk is understood and monitored, and how warnings are issued, communicated and acted upon across institutions.

A glacier collapse near the China-Nepal border triggered a catastrophic mudslide in just seven minutes, exposing gaps in monitoring and early warning as climate change raises the risk of extreme Himalayan disasters.

A deadly Nepal-Tibet border flood highlights how limited cross-border data sharing, restricted access to Tibet and weak early warning systems can hinder disaster preparedness. The article calls for greater regional cooperation on climate and flood risks.

Machine-learning techniques could help provide more warning. By detecting subtle changes in the continuous vibrations around a volcano, they can potentially identify signs of an impending eruption hours beforehand.

Experts say the Nepal-Tibet flood was driven by a glacier collapse, monsoon-saturated conditions and high exposure in a vulnerable mountain corridor. The disaster highlights cascading risks, preparedness gaps and the need for cross-border warning systems.

A massive rescue and relief operation has been launched in the wake of devastating flash floods in Nepal, which were triggered by an avalanche of ice and rocks in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China near the border with Nepal.

The disaster in Rasuwa has once again exposed the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to climate-driven hazards and highlighted gaps in monitoring and early warning systems.

Gaire later told local media outlet Ratopati those 10 seconds were decisive: people who recognised the danger and ran towards higher ground survived. Others who delayed or ran elsewhere were swept away, or went missing.

A flash flood can transform a river within minutes. This is what communities near the Nepal-Tibet border witnessed on Wednesday.

This report analyses private sector engagement in early warning systems through a functional, system-level lens.

This article reports public reactions to a UK emergency phone alert on wildfire risk, highlighting concerns over alert fatigue, unclear guidance and the need for effective crisis communication.

This study evaluates coastal overwash and inundation forecasts during Hurricanes Laura and Delta, highlighting how storm surge uncertainty and wave effects influence coastal hazard predictions.

WeatherNext enables accurate cyclone forecasts that can give an extra day of warning. Now we are open sourcing the model.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) developed a wildfire early detection system that combines real-time modelling, remote sensing and multiple datasets to help emergency officials decide when to alert at-risk communities and where to deploy resources.

This study evaluates a music-based hurricane preparedness video in the Caribbean, finding that it can increase self-efficacy, trust and positive emotions alongside preparedness intentions.

This study aims to identify shelter management challenges, existing practices, and resident-driven recommendations in four unions of Sarankhola, southwest Bangladesh, while also developing a perceived cyclone risk map.

WMO is pleased to launch the Global Integrated Flood and Drought Management Competition for Youth-Led Projects supports innovative, youth-driven ideas that address the challenges posed by floods and droughts and advance Early Warnings for All (EW4All).

FIU researchers developed an expanded economic model to measure the value of hurricane forecasts. They included injuries, evacuation costs and the long-term consequences of forecast errors into their calculations and found a single injury costs ~$133,066.

A recent WMO project mission to Djibouti highlighted tangible progress from CREWS Djibouti in advancing people-centered early warning systems and set priorities for the next phase of implementation with national partners.

The National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2025–2030) and Short and Medium Term Action Plan provides a comprehensive, forward-looking framework to strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to disasters.

The podcast explores the ACACIA Project and how new sub‑seasonal forecasts, local forecasters and community planning (EVCA) come together to reduce the impacts of cyclones and floods in Madagascar.

When a heat wave arrives, the public health advice follows a familiar script: drink water, watch for heat stroke, check on people with heart or lung conditions. That list saves lives. But it leaves out chronic pain.

This brief presents the results of a Government of Japan-funded FAO project on ''Enhancing flood management in Uganda with integrated early warning systems to contribute to women, peace and security''.

A way to measure hurricanes using earthquake-monitoring equipment could improve storm forecasting, support public safety, and enhance understanding of Earth’s atmosphere.

Researchers at University of Montana announced a free high-tech tool used to better understand forests and rangelands across the country. It can identify areas at high risk of wildfire and high-severity fire where catastrophic events can occur.