EC-68/Doc. 3.2.4, APPROVED, p. 4

World Meteorological Organization
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Sixty-Eighth Session
Geneva, 15 to 24 June 2016 / EC-68/Doc.3.2.4
Submitted by:
Chairperson
23.VI.2016
APPROVED

AGENDA ITEM 3: DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, RESILIENCE AND PREVENTION

AGENDA ITEM 3.2: IMPACT-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES

AGENDA ITEM 3.2.4: TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECASTING

SUMMARY

DECISIONS/ACTIONS REQUIRED:

(a) Adopt draft Decision 3.2.4/1 — Enhancing capability of the NMHSs in tropical cyclone impact-based forecasting and warning services, following a multi-hazard early warning approach;

(b) Adopt draft Decision 3.2.4/2 — Strengthening the regionally coordinated tropical cyclone forecasting system to cover all Members affected by tropical cyclones.

CONTENT OF DOCUMENT:

The Table of Contents is available only electronically as a Document Map[*].

DRAFT DECISIONS

Draft Decision 3.2.4/1 (EC-68)

Enhancing capability of the NMHSs in tropical cyclone impact-based forecasting and warning services with multi-hazard approach

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,

Recognizes that tropical cyclone forecasting environments have been changing with evolving new technologies for increased availability of observational data and new forecasting guidance products, and with the growing demand of users for not only greater accuracy and longer lead times of forecasts, but also forecast products for multi elements corresponding to different hazards;

Acknowledges that tropical cyclone forecasting and warnings with multi-hazard approach require the tropical cyclone forecasters to update and upgrade their forecasting knowledge, skills and competencies in a systematic and multi-disciplinary manner to understand, mine, refine and integrate the large quantities of available new data and guidance products, which should enable them to formulate official forecasting and warnings with increased certainty and confidence and in a way easy to understand for the public and enticing feedback;

Considers that there is a need to make every effort to assist Members in enhancing their capabilities in tropical cyclone forecasting and warnings which are impact-based and in multi-hazard configuration;

Notes that under Resolution 23 (Cg-XVI) – Tropical Cyclone Programme, there have been established institutional arrangements for regionally coordinated early warning systems with multi-hazard configuration for tropical cyclones in all ocean basins prone to tropical cyclones; and that the Members have been encouraged to promote tropical cyclone forecasting and warnings which are based on impacts to societies;

Decides that new products be developed and corresponding training opportunities be provided, under the initiative of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMC) dealing with tropical cyclones, in collaboration with Members with experience in impact-based tropical cyclone forecast and warning services, to assist Members in accelerating their implementation of impact-based tropical cyclone forecasts and warnings;

Urges Members to accelerate, with the support of the Secretariat, the adoption of impact-based tropical cyclone forecast and warning services, which will enable them to implement disaster risk reduction and mitigation at national level;

Requests:

(1) The tropical cyclone regional bodies to facilitate, through integrated collaborative efforts with their respective DRR stakeholders and with relevant technical commissions, the implementation of impact-based forecast and warning services by NMHSs;

(2) The regional association to synergize the tropical cyclone related regional projects/ activities, like SWFDP, SWFDDP, CIFDP, TLFDP, etc., to provide integrated assistance to Members in the Region, especially LDCs and SIDS/MITs, for their improvement in tropical cyclone related DRR services;

(3) The technical commissions, especially CBS and JCOMM, to provide further technical assistance based on requirements of Cg-17;

Requests the Secretary-General:

(1) To support the Tropical Cyclone RSMCs and TCWCs in accelerating Members’ development of new forecast and warning products which are based on impacts to societies and in a multi-hazard configuration;

(2) To provide new training opportunities for the new forecast and warning products to be included into the existing training activities under the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme and Education and Training Programme.

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Draft Decision 3.2.4/2 (EC-68)

Strengthening the regionally coordinated tropical cyclone forecasting system to cover all Members affected by tropical cyclones

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL,

Recalls the view of Cg-17 (paragraph 3.1.65 of the Abridged Final Report) on the importance of regional coordination across the globe to ensure inclusion of non-traditional Members of the RSMCs/TCWCs areas of responsibility; and that Cg-17 has asked the Secretary-General to establish sustainable and reliable links, and develop a mechanism, with the support of the regional associations, to include all Members;

Aware of the areas on the globe in the periphery of the traditional areas of responsibility where Members are not specifically served for tropical cyclone events by an RSMC/TCWC (e.g. Arabian Sea countries, eastern Atlantic);

Notes that the Eighth Tropical Cyclone RSMCs/TCWCs Technical Coordination Meeting (Miami, Florida, USA, 2–6 November 2015) recommended that the RSMCs/TCWCs confirmed or strengthened linkages with those Members on the periphery of their traditional AoR that might not be clearly served;

Urges those Members concerned to be proactive in pursuing cooperation and support from the nearby regionally coordinated tropical cyclone forecasting and warning system;

Requests the Secretary-General:

(1) To invite those Members concerned to be included in the regionally coordinated tropical cyclone early warning systems;

(2) To provide training opportunities to forecasters from those Members concerned to participate in tropical cyclone training activities.

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