Africa needs early warnings for all to combat extreme weather, save lives: WMO

Africa, already highly susceptible to climate change impacts, lacks sufficient early warning systems for extreme weather events, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). A recent virtual meeting of the WMO Regional Association for Africa highlighted the urgency of implementing “Early Warnings for All” across the continent.

The meeting took place from May 13 to 15, 2024, following devastating floods in East Africa and a drought in Southern Africa.

The convention was intended to address Africa’s weather, water and climate-related challenges, as well as the impact on vulnerable communities. Heads of national meteorological and hydrological services from across Africa met to discuss ways to strengthen observation networks, improve climate services, promote sustainable water management and maintain regional cooperation.

Early Warnings for All is a United Nations initiative aimed at ensuring that by the end of 2027, everyone on the planet is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events via lifesaving early warning systems.

WMO and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction are co-leading the initiative, which also has support from the International Telecommunication Union, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners.

WMO Secretary-General Andrea Celeste Saulo emphasised the importance of early warning systems for weather-related hazards such as storms, floods and droughts in protecting lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. Currently, about 60 per cent of the African continent is not covered by early warning services.

“The application of meteorological and hydrological knowledge is invaluable in safeguarding lives, protecting property, supporting sustainable development and fostering community resilience in the face of climate-related challenges,” Celeste Saulo, WMO secretary-general, said in her opening address.

The three-day session focused on flood and drought management, capacity development and integrated health science and services.

The WMO Strategic Plan 2024-2027 was prioritised, including the implementation of the global basic observing network and the WMO Information System, as well as the advancement of the meteorological organisation’s service delivery strategy through digital transformation.

From droughts, floods to cyclones, African nations are bracing themselves for a new normal of extreme weather. 

Floods and landslides in eastern Africa affected almost a million people in Burundi, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, child rights body UNICEF stated on May 9. Unusually heavy rains pounded the region, worsened by the 2023-2024 El Nino climate phenomenon.

According to the UN Migration Agency, Burundi is one of the twenty most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The country has experienced severe rainfall due to El Nino conditions since the beginning of 2024, adding to its painful reality of climate migration, according to International Organization for Migration, Burundi.

Cyclone Hidaya, which hit Kenya in May 2024, was the country’s first cyclone. While the cyclone had only mild effects in Kenya, Tanzania and its islands were hit the hardest when Hidaya made landfall on May 4, 2024, according to Kenya Meteorological Department and Tanzania Meteorological Authority.

“Many regions in Kenya, especially coastal areas and low-lying regions, are highly susceptible to floods and other climate-related disasters. The poor or lack of adequate infrastructure, early warning systems and emergency preparedness further compounds the risks,” a Down To Earth report quoted environmentalist Edward Indakwa.

Investing in observation infrastructure and disseminating relevant information is critical for protecting lives and property from hazards such as tropical cyclones, droughts and flooding.