The South African Weather Service (SAWS) provides essential weather forecasting and climate services through specialized divisions. SAWS forecasts help prepare South Africa for weather events and support important industries. SAWS also enhances regional cooperation by providing forecasts to neighboring countries and implementing projects like the Severe Weather Warning System and Flash Flood Guidance System across Southern Africa. SAWS ensures access to accurate, life-saving weather information through continuous monitoring, research, and global collaboration.

1. CASE IN POINT
by CD Anderson
South African
Weather Service:
A User Perspective
Through the work of the South African Weather Service in a number of
specialised meteorological fields, the country and its people have been
prepared for any weather-related eventuality.
T
he South African Weather Service’s (SAWS) work be used for decision making
is supported by ground breaking new weather by the public and important
products and services available to commercial weather sensitive industries.”
and public clients, and its reputation as being a world The division provides a
class organisation has been confidently cemented, service to the public, corporate
not only in its service to the country and the Southern clients, national, regional and
African region, but also as an important player in global international stakeholders.
meteorological research and development. Various divi- “We monitor the atmosphere
sion leaders at SAWS share their insights into the SAWS 24 hours, 365 days per year,
user perspective: and it is important that users
have access to the most up-to-
Mnikeli Ndabambi, Acting General Manager: date forecasting information
Operations/Senior Manager: Forecasting in order to make important,
“Forecasting products and services are vital,” sometimes life saving deci-
Ndabambi says, “as they provide information that can sions,” Ndabambi explains.

2. CASE IN POINT
Ndabambi regards his division’s contribution event and the system to predict it, considers both
to the enhancement of the Severe Weather Warning weather and environmental factors in determining
System (SWWS) as an outstanding achievement. “This how, when, where and how long it takes to occur.
system,” he continues, “has been used effectively to “The universal problem,” says Poolman, “in
service Disaster Management authorities, both na- dealing with flash floods, is determining how
tionally and provincially, to ensure the safety of much of the rain water will be absorbed into the
life and reduced damage to property when severe ground and how much will become run-off water.
weather is experienced.” The SAFFG system pre-calculates which areas will
“Internationally, we are recognised for our suc- have large amounts of run-off water and how long
cessful implementation and consistent management this will take to accumulate, based on data collect-
of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) ed from weather radars, satellite observations and
Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project for weather prediction models, as well as hydrological
SADC countries. Since 2006, SAWS has given severe information on the ground (such as soil composi-
weather guidance forecasts to SADC countries that tion). At the moment, the system is used in various
would otherwise not have access to this information,” flashpoint areas across South Africa, and the co-
Ndabambi says. “This particular project is now used operation between SAWS and the WMO will see a
by other countries as a best practices benchmark.” roll out of the system across seven countries in the
Forecasting services affect both the economic and SADC region. This system is regarded as a better
social environment in South Africa, and history shows option for developing countries, where river data is
that while extreme weather conditions cost South Africa not always available.”
billions of rands and are a threat to the lives of all citi- The SAFFG provides vital information that assists
zens, attitudes and behaviour in response to these events in the decision making processes of weather forecast-
are changing for the better. “With climate change and ers and disaster management structures at local and
global warming expected to impact significantly in fu- regional levels, in order to reach communities at risk
ture,” Ndabambi explains, “there has been an increase in the fastest time. In the past, heavy rain warnings
in awareness in terms of socio-economic benefits from with the potential for flash flooding were issued as a
forecasting products and services. SAWS has positioned generalised warning. “Since October last year, SAWS
itself as the preferred forecasting services provider on has started issuing specific flash flood warnings,
the sub-continent and is used as a benchmark in the based on the guidance of SAFFG. This will be an im-
continent and beyond. Forecasting science continues to portant part of the SAWS’s service to the community,”
contribute positively on the economy and human ac- concludes Poolman.
tivities as the people get more understanding in using
forecasting services for decision making.” Deon Terblanche, Senior
Manager: Research
Eugene Poolman, Chief Forecaster: Disaster Risk “Research acts primarily
Reduction as a support for the opera-
The South African Flash Flood Guidance (SAFFG) tional services and products of
system, is a tool that aids forecasters in improving SAWS,” Terblanche explains.
their accuracy in fore- The division has two units,
seeing potential flash Climate and Environment
flood occurrences. Research and Monitoring and
Poolman explains Prediction Research, each with
a flash flood as “an a specific research focus that
event that happens improves services delivery by
within six hours of a SAWS’s various functions.
heavy downpour. It is, Prediction Research devel-
unlike a normal river ops new forecasting techniques
flood, something that on all time scales. “This cov-
can happen anywhere, ers topics such as nowcasting (for up to two hours
in a metropolitan area, ahead), to short range forecasting (for up to two
for example, and it days), medium range (up to seven day forecasting),
happens very quick- extended range for 10 to 30 day forecasts and also
ly. A flash flood is a seasonal forecasting for up to five month forecasts,”
hydro-meteorological Terblanche says.

3. CASE IN POINT
“South Africa is designated by the WMO as a The division applies these principles of excellence
Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre as well as to all aspects of aviation, in close and successful rela-
a Global Producing Centre for Long Range Forecasts tionships with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and
– one of only three in the Southern Hemisphere. the Department of Transport. Services include terminal
SAWS provides guidance forecasts to neighbouring forecasts, which assist in the planning and execution
countries who do not have facilities to access and of airport traffic control with real-time meteorological
downscale global data. Research in SAWS therefore information and observation enabling safe aircraft pro-
has a responsibility that extends to beyond our bor- cedures, all of which, Khambule says, “enhances the
ders as the forecasting techniques developed have efficiency of aviation in the country.”
to form the basis of services to the SADC region, to Through interactive products such as significant
which they add their own regional specific values for weather charts, aviation clients receive updated na-
their customers,” Terblanche explains. tional weather and climate information that ensures
“The process of global cooperation between me- safety and assists airline companies’ resource plan-
teorological services,” Terblanche says, “is very ning, saving time and money. “It costs a lot for an
structured, thanks to the WMO, and it facilitates the aircraft to fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and
sharing of information with countries that may not if the information about weather conditions is not
have the infrastructure for specialised services and
products. SAWS has become a major player in the
region, and a middle-man between global weather/ “We provide aviation weather
climate centres and the rest of the continent.”
The Climate and Environment research unit deals
services on a national and
with issues of climate change and developing applica- international level, in accordance
tions for addressing this aspect of meteorology. “This with the International Civil
unit operates the Global Atmospheric Watch station at
Cape Point, and manages the regional research facilities Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
of the WMO’s Global Atmospheric Watch programme,” and South African Civil Aviation
he explains. This long-term information gathered on
greenhouse and trace gases in the atmosphere, includ-
Authority standard provisions or
ing maintaining the second-longest record for CO2 meas- regulations,” says Khambule.
urement in the Southern Hemisphere, is,” as Terblanche
concludes, “of great national and international impor-
tance, as these gases are the primary causes of global accurate or even not available, this means a flight is
warming and the information is used to predict trends turned around, re-routed or grounded. Multiply that
and changes in global weather patterns.” by hundreds of flights every day, and it becomes clear
that it is important that we provide the right informa-
Gaborekwe Khambule, Acting General Manager: tion, in good time, to be used effectively in the flight
Operations and Senior Manager: Aviation Services planning,” she explains.
Khambule is charged Technology – and its challenges and competen-
with the planning, coordina- cies – is one of the aspects of Khambule’s role in the
tion and implementation of Aviation division. “International controlling bodies,”
services and products for com- she explains, “have strict guidelines for the kind of sci-
mercial airlines, civil aviation entists and technology we require for this specialised
authorities and airport man- service, and SAWS invests a lot of time and effort to
agement services. train its meteorologists effectively.”
“We provide services on The products and services speak for them-
a national and international selves, and Khambule is confident that SAWS and
level, in accordance with the its Aviation division continue to deliver products
International Civil Aviation and services of the highest standard. “Through a
Organisation (ICAO) and full verification of the high standard of our services,
South African Civil Aviation an on-going evaluation process of our scientists, as
Authority standard provi- well as sharing of information and experience with
sions or regulations,” she other meteorological services across the world, our
begins, “and working to these clients are assured that we have the right combina-
high standards provides an tion of experience and training to offer the best and
opportunity for the Weather Service to offer only the safest methods of aviation weather management for
best products to our clients.” South Africa,” she concludes.

4. CASE IN POINT
Nish Devanunthan: Senior Manager: Technical
Themba Dube, Senior Manager: Climate Services Services
This division deals with four distinct business units. The deployment, maintenance and upkeep of the
The Climate Data unit gathers, interprets and entire SAWS observation network are the Technical
handles the comprehensive quality control of the Services Division’s responsibil-
huge amount of weather data that SAWS receives ity. The observation network
from observation stations and regional offices across consists of surface observation as
the country on a daily basis. The Climate Informa- well as remote sensing equip-
tion unit sees client liaison officers distributing this ment, ranging from Automatic
gathered data and reworked information to SAWS Weather Stations (AWS), Rainfall
clients. The Observation Unit functions in, as Dube Stations, meteorological radar
calls it, “the processes and procedures involved in systems, upper air receiving
gathering information, and making sure that these stations and lightning detection
are done correctly and concisely”. This coordination systems. These systems are dis-
of information from across the country is important tributed countrywide.
for quality assurance of the products and services of- The Technical Services divi-
fered by SAWS. sion has internally developed
The Air Quality unit, the most important function an AWS and an Automatic
of Dube’s Climate Services division, collaborates with Rainfall Station (ARS). “These
the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) South two stations comply with the
African Air Quality Information Systems (SAAQIS). requirements of the World
“DEA used to monitor the country’s air quality, Meteorological Organisation and have been devel-
but it is a regulatory body, and could only manage oped by South Africans for South African condi-
this service through other independent service pro- tions,” says Devanunthan, “and they have proved
viders,” Dube continues, “however, this was not an to be successful in other SADC countries.” They are
ideal and sustainable way forward in order to build successful because “they are easy to maintain and
adequate capacity in this function.” In 2010, SAWS were designed specifically for the harsh African
was legally mandated to drive this important func- conditions.” Devanunthan explains, “the ARS is es-
tion of air quality monitoring and observation. pecially valuable in contributing towards data for
“Infrastructure,” Dube says, “like technology the Flash Flood Guidance System”. By having the
and manpower, is important to sustain and SAWS is most recent rainfall data available, provided by the
able to gather, consolidate and distribute all this in- ARS, flood monitoring authorities are able to make
formation in the right manner.” According to the Air informed decisions about potential floods and can
Quality Act, access to act accordingly.
air quality informa- Nationally, the SAWS-developed AWSs and ARSs
tion is a basic right. have been sold to Disaster Management structures,
The main objective municipalities and the agricultural sectors for their
of SAAQIS is to pro- specific needs. The AWS was also modified to com-
vide all stakeholders ply with CAA regulations for use on smaller private
with easy access to all airports. “Although designed for private commercial
relevant air quality in- use,” Devanunthan continues, “data gathered from
formation. Ultimately, this equipment is fed into the SAWS data network and
Dube says, “SAAQIS contributes to the overall enhancing of our services.”
will benefit each citi- The Technical Services division also provides
zen and policy maker, technical assistance in an advisory capacity to cer-
which will lead to tain meteorological services in the SADC region.
appropriate strate- “We assist them, upon their request, with technical
gies for the reduction maintenance and provide training where necessary
of poor air quality in in order to enable them to independently look after
South Africa”. their own systems,” Devanunthan concludes.