The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has called on government institutions, businesses and communities to use weather forecasts more effectively as the country prepares for possible impacts of a strengthening El Niño towards the end of the year.
The call was made by TMA Board Chairman, Justice Mshibe Ali Bakari, when he opened the 25th meeting on the October-December 2026 Vuli rainfall forecast in Dodoma.
Justice Mshibe said receiving weather information was not enough, urging sectors to translate forecasts into practical measures to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
“As we prepare to receive the October-December 2026 Vuli rainfall forecast, it is important for everyone to closely monitor and understand the information so they can begin preparations to address the expected impacts in their respective sectors,” he said.
He said the anticipated strengthening of El Niño towards the end of 2026 required early action, particularly because weather-related events could have different consequences depending on the sector and location.
Tanzania is already dealing with the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, drought, strong winds, cyclones and episodes of heavy rainfall that can trigger flooding, Justice Mshibe said.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond simply receiving forecasts and instead use them when making decisions on agriculture, water management, transport, infrastructure, health, energy and disaster preparedness.
TMA Director General Dr Ladislaus Chang’a said the authority had continued improving its weather information services to make forecasts more useful to communities and decision-makers.
He said TMA had developed localised forecasts covering 86 districts in regions that receive Vuli rains.
The initiative is intended to help districts and sectors make decisions based on weather conditions expected in their specific areas, rather than relying solely on broad regional forecasts.
Dr Chang’a said timely use of forecasts and early warnings could help reduce losses while improving productivity across economic and social sectors.
“This year, 2026, we are facing the challenge of El Niño, which is expected to strengthen towards the end of the year and influence the Vuli rains. Therefore, the proper and timely use of weather information is important for every sector in addressing this challenge,” he said.
Makame Kh Makame, Director of the Zanzibar Commission for Disaster Management, said accurate weather information was particularly important during El Niño conditions because it allowed communities and institutions to prepare before disasters occurred.
He said preparedness should cover the entire disaster management cycle, including prevention, response and recovery.
“Weather forecasting is very important, especially during El Niño, when communities and key sectors need to protect themselves, prepare, respond to disasters that may occur and restore normal conditions afterwards,” he said.
The meeting, held under the theme “Bridging the Gap in Understanding Weather Alerts Together,” also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the previous Masika rainfall forecast.
TMA said the Masika forecast achieved an accuracy rate of 94.1 percent, highlighting the growing importance of meteorological information in planning and risk management.
The authority is expected to officially release the 2026 Vuli rainfall forecast on August 18.
The forecast will be closely watched by farmers, local authorities and other sectors whose activities are directly affected by rainfall patterns.
For citizens, the emphasis from TMA is clear: weather forecasts should not be treated as information to be received and forgotten, but as a planning tool that can help communities prepare early, reduce losses and protect livelihoods from increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
