WMO urges for closing the gap between weather warnings and early action

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has called for closing the gap between weather warnings and early action to prevent loss of lives and property during extreme weather events. According to Dr. Joshua Ngaina, Project Officer at the WMO Representative Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, a study conducted in March 2026 in Garissa County found that 57 percent of surveyed respondents lacked access to flood information.

Most respondents acknowledged knowing what to do following a drought warning but were unable to execute the necessary actions. Dr. Ngaina urged for improved access to warnings and addressing practical barriers preventing early action, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the media to effectively interpret and message weather warnings.

He highlighted the importance of strong media partnership, community participation, and gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) in ensuring that reliable weather information reaches communities in time, is understood, and supports decisions to protect lives and livelihoods. The WMO will lead a consortium of organizations, including IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, Kenya Meteorological Service Authority, Kenya Red Cross Society, National Drought Management Authority, and Water Resource Authority, to strengthen the connections between meteorological and hydrological data, forecasting, communication, institutional decisions, and early action.