This document discusses MeteoAlarm, a pan-European platform providing weather alerts. It was created by the EMMA consortium at the request of EUMETNET to (1) provide alerts for a variety of weather parameters that cause damage, (2) be understandable to all public and private actors, and (3) be harmonized where possible. National meteorological services provide the alert information. MeteoAlarm communicates alerts using a standardized color-coded system. It has been highly successful, receiving about 6 billion hits since launching in 2007. Key to its success has been establishing effective communication between meteorological services and civil protection organizations.

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The making of meteoalarm
Michael Staudinger ZAMG / EUMETNET
Zentralanstaltfür
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Geodynamik
What is MeteoAlarm?
Request of EUMETNET to the EMMA - MeteoAlarm consortium:
Provide pan - European alert information on an Online Internet platform for:
• a variety of weather parameters causing damage
• understandable by all actors from the private and public sector –
• harmonized as far as possible
Sources of the information:
The National Meteorological and Hydrological Services

2. 05.06.2014
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time, location, severity, certainty . . . .
source: BH Landeck
A warning situation– who needs to know what?
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Severe thunderstorms
Laundry on the balcony? Event management? Canal system?
source: Fabian Lackner, meteopics
A warning situation– who needs to know what?

3. 05.06.2014
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Definition of warnings (ISDR)
What is a warning?
Tangible and understandable description of an expected
damage scenario
+
a clear advice what to do
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Definition of warnings
How to communicate within the chain of information?
Meteorology - Civil Protection:
Well prepared conversation:
Evaluating the infos on upcoming damage scenarios

4. 05.06.2014
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Definition of warnings
How to communicate within the chain of information?
Meteorology – Public:
Less prepared conversation:
What to do?
Why?
Which are similar events?
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ISDR – guidelines on Early warning systems
Integrate within DRR — EWS is not a stand-alone
Aim for synergy across levels: community, national, regional, global
Insist on multi-hazard EWS
Systematically include vulnerability
Accommodate multiple timescales
Account for evolving risk and rising uncertainty
Build partnership and individual engagement

5. 05.06.2014
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Standardised European Warnings - public
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European Warnings – Civil Protection : 5 days

6. 05.06.2014
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Meteoalarm – National level
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Meteoalarm – district (regional) level

7. 05.06.2014
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Meteoalarm Lessons learned (since 2007 1 bio hits/y)
• 4 – level colour code seen as understandable „language“
• Transition from „pure meteorology“ to „impact“well under way
• Links to www.meteoalarm from more than 1300 websites
• Approx. 6 Bio hits since start
• High acceptance with public and professonal institutions
• Civil Protection, First responders (national level)
• „European“ usage by tourists & professionals
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Warning matrix
Colour One word What to do? Damage / Impact Used how
often?
(Area approx.
300 000 km2)
Meteo Treshholds
e.g. Rain
(area + impact related)
Green Weather
report
usual phenomena - - - usual phenomena Examples
yellow Be aware! caution with
exposed activities
exposed objects
(avoidable)
> 30 per year > 54 mm/12h
orange Be
prepared!
keep informed in
detail, follow advice
of authorities
general damages
(not avoidable)
1 to 30 per year > 80 mm/12h
red Take
action!
follow order of
authorities under
all circumstances
be prepared for
extraordinary
measures
extreme damage and
/or casualties
extreme damage
(mostly) on large
areas, threatening
life and properties
(not avoidable, even
in otherwise safe
places)
less then 1 year
+ large
(5000km2) scale
phenomena
> 140 mm/12h

8. 05.06.2014
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Meteorological „rareness“ vs impact
Meteo (only) threshold
Damage
Criteria
Green Yellow Orange Red
No damage
Exposed objects/
Exposed acivities
general damages
(not avoidable)
extreme damage and /
or casualties
e.g. Heat wave in Greenland
Wind warnings on mountains
Forest fire in Sahara
. . . . . .
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Meteorological
rareness
xxxx
xxx
general
risk
Reaction
needed!!!
xxxx
xxx
impact
XXX
XXX
Risk when
exposed
xxx
xxx
RR 60mm/
60 min
Is the rareness of an event recognized under multi parameter conditions?
25° in December
RR 200mm/10 d
& snow cover ll
Meteorological rareness vs impact
RR 200mm
/10 d
snow cover
low lands

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Defining „thresholds“
Define areas by
climatology
Define areas of
vulnerability
Seasonal
variations?
Possible
interaction of
parameters?
Divide Damage /Impact in
3 categories and define
meteorology
Use thresholds as guidance
Consider possible impacts together
with Civil Protection
Determing alert levels
criteria at one point/station? no red / lower level
area criteria (parameter) met?
extreme impact possible? 1
Positive feedback from civ pro?
„red“
no red / lower level
no red / lower level
no red / lower level
optional steps
1 might be caused by a combination of parameters

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Intranet – homogenisation of forecaster work
Levels used in 2013

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Levels used in 2013
Levels used in 2013

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Different pathes towards the public and CP
forecasting Media, public
EMI-EuropenMeteorologicalInfrastructure
LAM,
in situ
data, …
forecasting
Civil Protection
Media, public
Media, public
Civil Protection
forecasting
Civil Protection regio
Media, public
Media, public
Civil Protection regio Media, public
LAM,
in situ
data, …
LAM,
in situ
data, …
Media, public
forecasting
forecasting
ERC (Intranet)
Different pathes towards the public and CP
forecasting Media, public
EMI-EuropenMeteorologicalInfrastructure
LAM,
in situ
data, …
forecasting
Civil Protection
Media, public
Media, public
Civil Protection
forecasting
Civil Protection regio
Media, public
Media, public
Civil Protection regio Media, public
LAM,
in situ
data, …
LAM,
in situ
data, …
Media, public
forecasting
forecasting
ERC
CAP Google
Pro users

13. 05.06.2014
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It´s all about communication
CP
Zentralanstaltfür
Meteorologieund
Geodynamik
It´s all about communication
CP

14. 05.06.2014
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It´s all about communication
CP
Zentralanstaltfür
Meteorologieund
Geodynamik
It´s all about communication
CP

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Two way communication to Civil Protection
What ought to be communicated
• Certainties/ probabilities?
• possible Scenarios ?
• Local and regional impact conditions?
• What has happened so far?
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Meteoalarm – growing together
1. Clear task by EUMETNET
2. Awareness of the chain of information:
Climatology – Impact (considering vulnerability)
3. Cooperation with users from Civil Protection - media
4. See harmonisation as permanent task, not precondition
5. Start simple and upgrade later (aim at multi hazard)
6. Offer other partners access to a highly visible platform
7. clear datapolicy for the re-use of data

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ISDR tasks
• Post HFA : Austrian position
• Portfolio of interventions: thematic and ressources
• what do people in the field need from science?
• creating awareness in the public
• Damage database
• Risc analysis (EC)
• Fachgruppe
Politics,
administration economy
exposed
Media,
Civil societyFachgruppe
ISDR Plattform Austria

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ISDR Plattform Austria
• Risikoanalyse
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Thanks for your attention!