Tropical Cyclone Programme (WMO)

Tropical Cyclone Programme (WMO)
Name	Tropical Cyclone Programme (WMO)
Formation	1980s
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Leader title	Director
Parent organization	World Meteorological Organization

Tropical Cyclone Programme (WMO) is an initiative of the World Meteorological Organization established to coordinate international action on tropical cyclone detection, forecasting, warning and mitigation. It integrates operational services, research collaborations, capacity building and regional coordination across World Weather Watch, World Climate Programme partners and national meteorological and hydrological services. The programme supports United Nations frameworks, links with International Civil Aviation Organization and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and operates through regional specialized centres and intergovernmental mechanisms.

History and development

The programme originated in response to devastating tropical cyclones in the 20th century, with impetus from meetings such as the World Meteorological Congress and scientific conferences including the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics symposia and the Global Atmospheric Research Programme. Early milestones involved collaboration with agencies like United States National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Japan Meteorological Agency and India Meteorological Department, and intergovernmental agreements shaped by sessions of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the United Nations General Assembly. Over successive World Meteorological Congress sessions the programme evolved, incorporating advances from projects such as the Global Precipitation Measurement mission and initiatives by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Partnerships with regional bodies including the Pacific Islands Forum, Caribbean Community, Association of Southeast Asian Nations and African Union informed the growth of regional warning systems.

Objectives and mandate

The programme’s mandate, as endorsed by the World Meteorological Congress and articulated in WMO-No. 258 guidance, is to enhance tropical cyclone prediction, warning dissemination and risk reduction through coordinated services among National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, research institutions and international organizations. Core objectives align with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, and commitments made at UNFCCC conferences, focusing on saving lives, protecting infrastructure and supporting resilience in vulnerable territories such as Small Island Developing States and delta regions influenced by Bay of Bengal and South China Sea cyclones.

Organizational structure and governance

Governance is anchored in the World Meteorological Organization's technical commissions and the World Meteorological Congress, with operational guidance from the World Weather Watch and coordination among Regional Associations such as RA I (Africa), RA II (Asia), RA IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean), and RA V (South-West Pacific). The programme liaises with specialized agencies including the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and regional development banks like the Asian Development Bank. Steering mechanisms involve advisory panels comprising experts from institutions such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Met Office (United Kingdom), Météo-France, and university research centers like Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

Services and activities

Operational activities include coordination of forecasting practices, best-practice guidance on warning dissemination, and development of multi-hazard early warning frameworks in concert with International Telecommunication Union, emergency management agencies like Federal Emergency Management Agency and maritime authorities such as the International Maritime Organization. The programme supports production of technical manuals used by entities like World Health Organization for preparedness, integration of satellite data from NOAA polar-orbiting satellites, Himawari series, and assimilation of numerical model outputs from centers such as ECMWF and National Centers for Environmental Prediction. It fosters standardized products: tropical cyclone advisories, storm surge guidance from groups like DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) partners, and impact-based forecasting used by International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement chapters.

Regional specialized meteorological centres and warning systems

A key mechanism is designation and support of Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres operated by agencies including Japan Meteorological Agency, India Meteorological Department, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Météo-France (Réunion), United States National Hurricane Center, and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. These centres coordinate with regional initiatives such as the Southwest Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone Network, North Atlantic Hurricane Conference, Typhoon Committee, and ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, interfacing with national coast guards and port authorities like Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Port of Singapore Authority.

Research, capacity building, and training

The programme underwrites research partnerships with institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, and university consortia, promoting advancements in cyclone genesis, intensity forecasting and rapid intensification studies. Capacity building includes training courses, fellowships and simulation exercises with World Meteorological Organization Regional Training Centres, collaborative projects funded by Green Climate Fund and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and exchange programs with operational centres such as Joint Typhoon Warning Center and National Hurricane Center. It facilitates application of remote sensing by linking to missions like Sentinel-1 and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and supports data standards promoted by Committee on Earth Observation Satellites.

Impact and evaluations

Evaluations by bodies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and independent reviewers show improvements in early warning lead times, reduction in cyclone-related mortality in regions with mature warning systems such as Japan, United States, and Australia, and ongoing challenges in Bangladesh, Mozambique and parts of the Caribbean. Impact assessments highlight contributions to resilient infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, while reviews emphasize gaps in social vulnerability mapping, local dissemination in remote islands, and integration with climate adaptation plans under Paris Agreement commitments. Continuous evaluation cycles occur through World Meteorological Congress resolutions and technical commissions.

Category:World Meteorological Organization Category:Meteorology