Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP)

Severe Weather Forecasting and DRR Demonstration Project (SWFDDP) in South Pacific

SWFDP Development in South Pacific

Following decision by the World Meteorological Congress during its fifteenth session (Cg-XV) in 2007, the development planning of Severe Weather Forecasting and DRR Demonstration Project (SWFDDP) in RA V was initiated in 2009 with participation of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in South Pacific focusing mainly on heavy rain, strong winds and damaging waves. For SWFDDP’s Cascading Forecasting Process, the contributing global and regional Centres are: Australian BoM, ECMWF and NCEP/NOAA, RSMC Wellington (lead regional Centre) and RSMC Nadi (for tropical cyclone forecast support).

SWFDDP-South Pacific is managed by a Regional Subproject Management Team (RSMT) which is mainly composed of designated representatives of NMHSs of participating SIDS and contributing global and regional centres. The first meeting of RSMT was held in Wellington in April, 2009 to develop the regional subproject implementation plan (RSIP). Later, a password-protected RSMC Wellington website and web portal was developed for making available the agreed NWP products and satellite information for the subproject. An in-country preparatory training programme was also stated in October 2009 for capacity development of NMHSs in NWP products interpretation and their usage in severe weather forecasting, and in improving delivery of services and warnings for hydrometeorological hazards. The pilot demonstration phase was started in November, 2009 with participation of four SIDS including Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoa. Later, five more SIDS namely: Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, Niue & Cook Islands  also joined and full demonstration phase of the subproject was commenced in November, 2010 with participation of nine SIDS in the region. The subproject is in Phase-III (demonstration & evaluation) since October 2013.

The in-country training programme for SIDS are meant to develop capacity of the NMHSs on making best use of the available NWP including EPS products and satellite information in improving severe weather forecasting and warning services for hazardous weather, and advancing engagement of the NMHSs with their targeted users including disaster management and civil protection authorities (DMCPAs) and media to fulfill their national obligation in reducing risks from meteorological hazards.

The subproject has been developed and implemented with funding support from Canada.

SWFDDP-South Pacific: Activities and Milestones since 2009

• First Meeting of Regional Subproject Management Team (RSMT) held in Wellington, New Zealand in April, 2009 to develop regional subproject implementation plan (RSIP) for SWFDDP-South West Pacific
• Project website since 2009
• Start of Demonstration in November 2009 with participation of Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
• In-county preparatory trainings for participating Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in South West Pacific during 2009-2010.
• 2nd Meeting of RSMT held in Wellington, New Zealand in November 2010 to review the subproject progress and to update RSIP.
• Start of Full Demonstration in November 2010 with participation of nine SIDS
• In-county training for participating SIDS in 2012 to develop capacity of the NMHSs and improve engagement with users including disaster management and civil protection authorities (DMCPAs)
• 3rd Meeting of RSMT held in Nadi, Fiji in August, 2013 to discuss, review and evaluate the subproject progress and to update RSIP.
• Subproject in phase III: Evaluation of demonstration since October 2013
• In-county training for participating SIDS during 2015-2016
• 4th Meeting of RSMT was held in Honiara, Solomon Islands during 25-27 August 2016 to review the subproject progress and evaluate the demonstration and consider its transition into operations (Phase-IV)
• 5th Meeting of RSMT was held in Noumea, New Caledonia during 27-28 July 2018 to review the subproject progress and consider follow up actions to ensure its transition to Phase-IV to sustain operations and continue further developments