The South African Weather Services (SAWS) plays an important role in mitigating the impacts of severe weather, natural disasters and climate-related challenges, and its success in mitigating the impacts of Cyclone Eloise this year was mainly the result of its progress in the 2020/21 financial year to change to impact-based weather forecasting.

This was indicated by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy, during a virtual seminar marking the 2021 World Meteorology Day (WMD) on March 23.

In January, Cyclone Eloise travelled from Mozambique and across South Africa, with considerable impacts from Mpumalanga to the Northern Cape.

Creecy said that, for more than two weeks, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries had participated in the National Disaster Management Committee where the SAWS tracked the unusual path of the cyclone, predicted disruptive rainfall and supported provincial and municipal governments to prepare for and avert the worst aspects of this extreme weather event.

“Using our state-of-the-art technology and collaborating with other international organisations, we were able to give accurate hour-by-hour information that enabled disaster management services across the country to mobilise support services to close roads and bridges threatened by flooding, monitor dam levels, clear debris and search for and rescue those affected by flood waters,” she enthused.

Highlighting the role of the move towards impact-based weather forecasting, Creecy said the advance warnings by the SAWS as part of these services played an important role in raising awareness among the public, thereby ensuring that people were able to take the necessary precautionary steps for maximum safety.

While Creecy acclaimed that dams in the country were now full and the drought broken, she paid tribute to the 40 lives lost and acknowledged the destruction of homes, schools, clinics and other infrastructure during the torrential rains.

Creecy emphasised that climate change was now part of everyone’s reality, with extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and severe storms threatening communities and ecosystems across the world.

“Without proper observational and communications systems, we will not be able to communicate these threats and make severe weather impact-based forecasts. Neither would we be able to collect climate information, which is crucial for agriculture, industry and services.

"Accordingly we must constantly strive to maintain and improve our meteorological infrastructure,” she noted.

Creecy emphasised that, while severe weather could not be prevented, its effects could, through empowering the public to act on time and take the necessary precautions and be prepared.

In this regard, she noted that the SAWS would continue with its awareness efforts on many levels and platforms to further create a weather aware- and weather-smart society.

She enthused that the service offering of the SAWS could assist the country to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Creecy emphasised the importance of getting the messages and warnings to all communities and weather sensitive industries, and especially those most vulnerable.

Therefore, Creecy said that, as soon as the pandemic permited, community-based education programmes with those most affected by extreme weather events would begin.

“It is a well-known fact that in rural communities women will carry the burden of climate change, as women and girls carry the responsibility for water and fuel collection, as well as agricultural cultivation,” she noted.

Moreover, she highlighted the importance of finding pandemic-compliant ways to ensure the country’s most vulnerable citizens were equipped to understand that its current experience would not be isolated or one off, but rather, part of a global change in weather patterns.

“It will also be important that we ensure significant adaptation partnerships and funding linked to those who need it most,” Creecy said.

She also mentioned the considerable impact of the pandemic on the SAWS, as it received a government grant but was also dependent on aviation and other income to ensure that its expenses were met.

The pandemic meant that a large portion of this income had diminished, leading to the pushing back of several critical projects, including those related to infrastructure development, she said.

“The SAWS will, during the next few years, increase its efforts to improve its ageing infrastructure, especially its weather radars and information and communications technology support.

Further, it will continue to grow its pool of highly qualified scientists, weather technologists and other human resources to ensure that South Africa maintains its scientific excellence and competitive edge to face environmental challenges while also adhering to various regulatory frameworks, national and international priorities.

"In this way, the organisation, with the support of its board and the department will continue to play a leading role in aviation safety, disaster risk reduction and other key mandate areas,” Creecy highlighted.