World Meteorological Day 2018: Are we weather-ready?

Are we weather-ready and climate-smart? Can you feel the sea breeze sweep over you as you watch the white smoke of rolling waves smolders on through the sunstricken sky as seen in Sea Breeze?

To understand the weather and climate, the World Meteorological Day is observed on March 23 with a unique theme every year. The theme of WMD 2018 is 'Weather-ready, climate-smart'.

As the world celebrates this significant day which was first declared in 1950, Sea Breeze - a weather time-lapse film by Jack Miller is worth a glance. It beautifully captures the weather-beaten cloud-filled firmament and the different weather moods. There's beauty in the blue skies the white clouds and also the grey skies. There’s beauty untold in the winter's cold and midsummer nights. But are you ready to face the other side of midnight?

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Well, climate and weather affect not only one's daily scheme of things but also livelihood and existence. The disastrous impact of climate change has been looming large on earth for quite some time now.

Hence, one of the top priorities of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)  and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) is to “protect lives, livelihoods and property from the risks related to weather, climate and water events. Thereby, WMO and its Members support the global agenda on sustainable development, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction”.

If we falter on sustainable development, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, if the world let the talks on climate change simply hover over and no concrete steps taken, the impending doomsday is not too far. Which is why one needs to be weather smart and ready to make hay while the sun shines, pun intended, and plan for the rainy days

There is an urgent need to strengthen early warning system, the lack of which has led to many natural disasters and loss of lives in the past years. According to WMO: “Early warning is a major element of disaster risk reduction. It can prevent loss of life and reduces the economic and material impacts of hazardous events including disasters. To be effective, early warning systems need to actively involve the people and communities at risk from a range of hazards, facilitate public education on and awareness of risks, effectively disseminate messages and warnings and ensure there is a constant state of preparedness”. 

To make a long story short, ‘be weather ready and climate-smart'. Bask in the beauty of fine weather and save yourself and the world from weather-related natural hazards such as tropical cyclone storms, heavy rains, heatwaves and droughts.