Guidelines on early warning systems and application of nowcasting and warning operations
In 2010, a historic heat wave and numerous wildfires impacted Moscow and surrounding areas in the Russian Federation. At the same time, catastrophic flooding from unusually heavy monsoon rains was ongoing in Pakistan. Both events led to many fatalities and considerable human suffering. As climate change due to anthropogenic forcing continues, extreme weather events such as these are likely to become more common (IPCC 2007), further increasing the need for preparedness and early warning systems.
The need for robust early warning systems goes beyond purely natural disasters and extends to include response to man-made disasters. In 2010, a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico devastated the ecosystem, and severely impacted the local fishing and tourism industries. In such a disaster, meteorologists must be prepared to work with emergency response officials and experts in other disciplines to mitigate the effects of the disaster through effective decision support services.
Collection(s) and Series: WMO/TD- No. 1559; PWS- No. 21
Language(s): English; Other Languages: French, Spanish
Format: Digital (Free), Hard copy
Tags: Guidelines ; Observations ; Early warning systems ; Natural hazards ; Disaster prevention and preparedness ; National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) ; Service Delivery Division (SDD) ; PWS 21 
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Directives sur les systèmes d'alerte précoce et l'application des prévisions immédiates et des alertes (2010)