November 15-18, 2021

South Asia Hydromet Forum aims to build capacity and strengthen key elements of the hydromet service value chain by leveraging regional innovations and technologies among national, public, private and academic institutions.

South Asia is highly prone to extreme events due to monsoon rainfall variability, cyclones, droughts and other severe weather events, causing major societal impacts. In the past two decades, 3 out of 5 South Asians- more than 1.2 billion people- have been affected by at least one weather-related disaster. The social and economic costs  of such hazards have been staggering. 

Between 1990 and 2020, a total of 1408 natural disasters  have been reported in the South Asia region, which affected over 1.8 billion people and led to 541,245 deaths  and close to US$ 213 billion in damages.  Investments in hydrological, weather, and climate related services (or ‘hydromet’ services) and disaster early warning systems will be critical in saving lives and assets as well as strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities. International experience suggests  that for every dollar invested in strengthening hydromet services, the estimated benefits are manifold, up to US$ 10.

Supporting regional collaboration for operational forecasting and service delivery

The South Asia Hydromet Forum one (SAHF I) brought into focus the importance of quality delivery of weather, water and climate services and early warning as well as the need for regional collaboration and innovation. SAHF II laid the groundwork for regional cooperation and designed a program to address SAHF priorities which is administered by RIMES. 

SAHF III expands on the SAHF I & II – with a focus on service delivery, regional collaboration, and innovation - in alignment with early warning information value chain approach. The primary goal of SAHF is to iteratively strengthen key elements of the hydromet services value chain by bringing together a wide range of public, academic and private institutions through a demand and context driven approach for co-development of services and capacity building that promotes regional actions and addresses differential needs of NMHSs of SAHF countries.

Major Themes and Highlights from SAHF III

Theme I: Transforming hydromet service delivery

Session 1 – What Users need? Customized weather and climate services that yield value to economies and communities

Session 2 – Making sense of Forecasts! Evolving protocols and support systems for impact-based forecasting

Session 3 – Catching up to the Science – Improving weather and climate forecasts in the region

Theme II: Leveraging innovations and technologies

Session 4  – Skilling up SAR hydromet – Training that leaves an impact

Session 5 – ‘Data, data everywhere but not enough to use’ – Observational systems, regional exchange, information systems

Theme III: Embracing the power of regional cooperation

Session 6 – Regional

Collaborations for improved weather and climate services in South Asia