Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services Capacity Development

The COMET program has been supporting impact-based forecast and warning services (IBFWS) capacity development.  An IBFWS system has been implemented at the Barbados Meteorological Service (BMS) as part of the US National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Ready Nations (WRNs) initiative.  COMET collaborated with local partners and stakeholders including BMS, Barbados Department of Emergency Management, (DEM), and the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in the implementation of the IBFWS framework.  The IBFWS system was implemented in six phases that included 1) identifying the hazards, impacts, risks through stakeholder workshops; 2) developing new standard operating procedures; 3) adapting software tools that integrates the IBFWS framework; 4) training of stakeholders; 5) testing and evaluation of system; and 6) the development of documentation for public outreach.  Recently, IBFWS training resources have been developed following the guidance of WMO-No. 1150: WMO Guidelines on Multi-hazard Impact-based Forecast and Warning services.  The IBFWS course includes topics on the Process for Implementing Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services, Identifying Hazards and Constructing Impacts Tables, Using Multi-hazard, Impacts-based Forecast and Warning Services, and Communicating Risk.  These online training modules include engagement simulations related to the types of decisions that need to be made in developing impact-based forecasting programs. Future work is planned to develop a full curriculum related to impact-based forecasting. The presentation will provide an overview of the IBFWS system implementation in Barbados and the associated training resources that have been developed.