SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTING INRWANDA

by NGABONZIZA ATHANASE

INTRODUCTION

Rwanda Meteorological Service (RMS) is a Government Service responsible for providing weather and climate forecasts and warnings for the safety of life, protection of property and the natural environment as an input to the socio-economic development of the country.

GEOGRAGHICAL MAP OF RWANDA

Before preparing forecasts :- We collect all data from the stations (Meteograms)- We review the past weather- We download forecast products from ECMWF,

SADIS,GFS, SOUTH AFRICA SYNOPTIC WEATHER, etc…. after getting all information we look at:

The movements of the 4 Highs ( St Hellena, Mascarene, Azores, Arabian ridge and the East African ridge).The location and oscillation of the ITCZ.The oscillation of the ITD (Congo air mass). With all these we bear in mind the seasons to help where severe weather would occur.

HOW WE ISSUE FORECAST

DAIRLY SEVERE WEATHER FORECASTED

– HEAVY RAINFALL(50MM)– EMBEDED CB– FOG- VOLCANIC ASH

DISSEMINATION• Weather issued is disseminated throught RTV(Rwanda

Television), Radio, newspapers, web-site. • Rwanda Meteorological Service(RMS) issues 24-hours

7-days, Monthly (30-days) and Seasonal (90-days) forecasts through media ( Radio, Newspapers, TV).– R M S also provide specialized services to other

sectors of the economy including: Aviation, Health, Infrastructures, Agricultures, Water Resources, Energy, Tourism, Different mass media,

Construction, Research centres, Universities, Colleges ,etc……

• In case of emergency

Thunderstorm in the western region

Floods in Rubavu District North Western Region September 2008

Floods in Southern Province: Picture taken on 31st January 2007

Exemple of Rain Water in the South Eastern Region, SEPT. 2006

A women Weeps after losing her property due to Flood during Feb 2010 El-Nino Rain

Maize Plantation destroy by heavy Rain in the Western

province during March El-Nino rain 2010.