Guidelines for Satellite-based Nowcasting in Africa

Nowcasting has enormous value and potential in Africa, where populations and economic activity are highly vulnerable to rapidly changing weather conditions, including rapidly developing storms, heavy rainfall and dust storms, which are becoming more frequent and intense with climate change. Timely issuing of warnings, a few hours before an event, can enable the public and decision makers to take action, which can save lives and livelihoods, as well as support national economies. The potential applications of nowcasting across the continent are wide-ranging, and can cover various sectors and activities, including urban warning systems for flash floods, early warnings to fisherfolk at risk from drowning on lakes, protection of crops, water management systems, protection of cattle, aviation warnings as well as the transport sector.

The vulnerability of African countries to weather-related risks make the continent a priority for the development of nowcasting, and is the primary driver for recently published "Guidelines for Satellite-based Nowcasting in Africa". It provides guidelines for the implementation of a range of satellite nowcasting capabilities available for Africa with the advent of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellite system. The successful launch of the first MTG satellite on 13 December 2022 marks a major improvement over the previous geostationary satellite system. This aligns very well with the UN SG announcement to improve Early Warnings for All, led by the WMO and UNDRR.

The present guidelines are urgently needed, given that there is currently a lack of early warnings on this timescale in Africa. The guidelines aim to provide recommendations that will help facilitate near-term implementation, as well as the development of capacity and sustainability of services overtime. The various options are broken down in the document into different technical, operational, logistical and management aspects. The guidelines can be used to create templates and roadmaps for the establishment and maintenance of nowcasting functions in African countries.

The intended readership includes National Meteorological and Hydrological Services in Africa, Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres, Regional Training Centres, WMO-CGMS VLab Centres of Excellence for Training in Satellite Meteorology, and international agencies.