Early warning systems save jobs, lives, and infrastructure

EARLY warning systems (EWS) have become the buzzword throughout the meteorology community across the world over the last three years.

- OUPA SEGALWE

With the United Nations (UN) spearheading a worldwide campaign for the promotion of expansion of EWS from hazardous weather or climate events by the end of 2027, EWS have been identified as central to the success of UN Secretary-General Mr Antonio Guterres’ ambitious Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative.

According to the UN, EWS is a proven, efficient, and cost-effective way to save lives and jobs, land, and infrastructure, and support long-term sustainability.

The intergovernmental body shares further that EWS are urgently needed as climate change is causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, resulting in widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people.

However, the success of EWS depends on society making a habit of regularly consulting trusted weather information sources to trigger actions that could save lives and property.

South Africa is a country prone to hazardous weather events. These include heavy rainfall, which tends to spawn floods and mudslides; severe thunderstorms; hailstorms sometimes with damaging hail; and tornadoes; snowfall; droughts; and heatwaves.

Experts predict that with climate change continuing to take root, the severity of weather events are on the continued go course with time.