TANZANIA: TANZANIA is set to host a five-day World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) training course on radar meteorology aimed at boosting weather forecasting accuracy and improving disaster preparedness across the region.
The course also aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in utilising radar technology for weather forecasting and monitoring.
According to the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA), this vital tool plays a crucial role in early warning systems for severe weather events such as storms, floods and droughts.
The training, to be held in Mwanza from August 26-30 this year, will bring together participants from 13 countries, including Burundi, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
By strengthening the capacity of meteorologists in the region, the training is expected to improve weather forecasting accuracy and contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts.
Tanzania has made significant strides in weather forecasting with the installation of five modern weather radars across the country, boosting forecast accuracy to 86 per cent, well above the 70 per cent benchmark set by the WMO.
The government plans to increase the number of radars to nine by the end of the year.
Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa, when tabling budget estimates for the 2024/25 financial year in the august House, said that two radars are at an advanced stage of construction in the United States.
Upon arrival, they will be installed in Kilimanjaro and Dodoma regions, bringing the total number of weather radars countrywide to seven.
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He disclosed that the government has signed agreements for upgrading radars installed in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam to match updated technologies.
In improving meteorological services, the government has finalised the installation of weather monitoring equipment at airports in Songwe, Zanzibar, Mtwara, Arusha and Songea, with similar equipment being installed at airports in Musoma, Iringa and Mpanda progressively, he said.
Most regions will soon have automatic weather stations installed, he said, noting that due to these improvements, WMO chose Tanzania as a regional specialised meteorological centre for countries around Lake Victoria.
“The centre located in Dar es Salaam serves neighbouring countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi,” Prof Mbarawa said.
