The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) has maintained weather forecast accuracy of more than 80 percent, giving the government and the public an important tool as the country prepares for potentially disruptive El Niño rains.
Deputy Minister for Transport David Kihenzile said yesterday that reliable forecasts could help authorities, businesses and communities act before extreme weather causes damage, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding, strong winds and heavy rainfall.
He said accurate weather information was especially important to the transport sector, where severe weather can disrupt road, air and other transport services, affecting the movement of people and goods.
Mr Kihenzile made the remarks in Dar es Salaam after meeting TMA Director General Dr Ladislaus Benedict Chang’a and meteorological experts to review the country’s weather outlook and preparations for the expected El Niño rains.
“The accuracy of weather forecasts enables the government and citizens to take precautions early and reduce the effects of natural disasters,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said timely dissemination of forecasts was as important as improving their accuracy, urging continued efforts to ensure weather alerts reach people and institutions before dangerous conditions occur.
For Tanzania, the importance of such warnings extends beyond disaster response. Farmers depend on rainfall forecasts for planting decisions, while transport operators, businesses and local authorities need weather information to plan activities and protect infrastructure.
Dr Chang’a said TMA was strengthening its weather monitoring and forecasting systems to improve both the accuracy of forecasts and the speed at which information reaches users.
He said the improvements would strengthen the country's ability to respond to climate-related risks and weather-related disasters, including the El Niño rains expected in some parts of Tanzania.
With authorities already preparing for the coming rains, timely weather warnings could prove critical in limiting disruptions to transport, protecting infrastructure and enabling communities to take preventive measures before extreme weather strikes.