Tanzania is stepping up preparations for the 2026 El Niño season, with the country’s weather authority and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stressing the need for timely warnings and stronger measures to limit the effects of extreme weather.
The issue featured prominently in talks between Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) Director General Dr Ladislaus Chang’a and WMO Secretary-General Prof Celeste Saulo in Geneva on September 15, where they also discussed improving weather forecasting and the use of new technology in delivering climate information.
The discussions are particularly important for sectors such as agriculture, transport, water, health and disaster management, where timely weather information can help authorities and communities prepare before extreme conditions cause damage or disrupt services.
Prof Saulo commended Tanzania for its efforts to educate the public about El Niño and communicate warnings on possible impacts during the rainy seasons.
“I commend Tanzania’s efforts in providing weather services and education, particularly during this period when we are facing a strong El Niño,” Prof Saulo said.
She said Tanzania had been used as an example in her recent address on the evolving El Niño situation and the importance of preparedness.
The WMO chief also pledged continued support to Tanzania in strengthening meteorological services, including through programmes that promote the use of artificial intelligence (AI) across the weather-service chain.
The technology could support improvements in areas such as forecasting, processing weather data and communicating warnings, although effective preparedness will also depend on how quickly the information reaches communities and institutions responsible for taking action.
Dr Chang’a thanked the WMO for its continued support to TMA through regional and national programmes aimed at improving weather services.
He said the programmes, implemented in collaboration with development partners and WMO member states, were progressing well and contributing to the strengthening of Tanzania’s capacity to provide weather information.
The meeting also underlined the importance of linking forecasts with practical preparedness measures, particularly as extreme weather events can affect livelihoods, infrastructure and delivery of essential services.
For Tanzania, the focus on early warning is intended to give farmers, transport operators, local authorities, businesses and households more time to make decisions before potentially disruptive weather conditions occur.
The discussions between TMA and WMO therefore place greater emphasis on turning weather forecasts into actionable information ensuring that warnings are not only issued, but understood and acted upon by those most exposed to weather-related risks.