Blog

Master of Atmospheric and Climate Science Students at the University of Rwanda Trained on Nowcasting Tool: NWCSAF

Between 7th and 25th October 2021, African SWIFT Postdoc Researcher, Bethwel Kipkoech Mutai, was invited to teach the Weather Systems module, as part of the MSc. Atmospheric and Climate Science programme at the College of Science and Technology at the University of Rwanda in Kigali. Through structured regional and international collaborations, the University of Nairobi … Continue Reading

Using co-production to improve the appropriate use of sub-seasonal forecasts in Africa

Having accurate sub-seasonal forecasts for Africa (2-4 weeks ahead) has huge potential to improve the early warning of extreme, high-impact weather events. Such warnings could support crucial preparedness action in weather-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, energy, food security and disaster risk reduction. However, realising this potential not only requires accurate forecasts, but forecasts that can … Continue Reading

Using positive land surface temperature anomalies to predict the location of convection in Niger

Patterns of soil moisture, observed by satellite, are helping us to pinpoint the locations where thunderstorms will form. Testbed 3 is pioneering the use of these land surface observations as part of the process of ‘nowcasting’ for the Sahel zone in Africa. Nowcasting refers to a forecasting process where we provide short-term predictions of severe … Continue Reading

Gravity waves, land surface and convective initiation

Close analysis of the weather situation among the researchers and forecasters in SWIFT Testbed 3 has been uncovering some of the processes and patterns controlling the development of thunderstorms in West Africa. By looking at the patterns of clouds and storms as they develop during the day, and relating these to patterns of soil moisture … Continue Reading