WMO Urges Stronger Weather Services

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2023 report has highlighted the need to strengthen weather services. The report highlights the need for more National Meteorological and Hydrological Services investment to strengthen forecasts and life-saving early warnings. The WMO’s findings reveal that 47% of the organisation’s members in Latin America and the Caribbean provide only ‘basic or essential’ weather services. It also disclosed that just 6 % provide “full or advanced” services to support decision-making in climate-sensitive sectors. In addition, the WMO observed that advances in integrating meteorological data into health surveillance, focusing on disease, reflect a move towards stronger public health strategies. However, the world body declared there is still much room for improvement in view of growing climate-related risks to health. A particular chapter in the climate report said this includes heat waves, air pollution, food insecurity, and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever. With the official start of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, June 1, just over a week away, Saint Lucia’s National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has asked residents to be prepared. Colorado State University has predicted 23 named storms during the season that officially runs until November 30...