1. The french « meteorological vigilance » procedure
METEO-FRANCE
Gérard Le Bars
This new system will become fully operational next october.
It has been tested for several months

2. The french « meteorological vigilance » procedure
The old procedure : before october 2001.
The new vigilance procedure.
An european project.

3. Background : The severe weather warning procedure until 1st october 2001
Phenomena : rain, strong winds, thunderstorms, snowfalls, ice and coldwave.
Based only on messages/bulletins.
Included two production levels : the national and regional level.

4. The severe weather warning procedure until 1st october 2001
Regional level
Messages BRAM : exceeding thresholds (rain, snow, wind,…) defined with regional civil safety authorities.
Issued 12 to 6 hours in advance.
National level
In case of very intense and widespread events : messages ALARME.
#10/year 12 to 36 hours in advance.
After devastating floods and storms in November and December 1999, Meteo France worked with its partner from civil protection services to determine the weaknesses of the existing warning system.

5. THE WEAKNESSES OF THE OLD PROCEDURE
Too many bulletins (esp.for thunderstorms).
General public not well informed (storms in 1999). (technical words, public not directly warned,…)
Meteorological events not qualified.
No advice on behaviour.
Following weaknesses were pointed up :
·        too many warnings, due to the choice of regional criteria (especially for the thunderstorms) that have lead to a lessening of the impact of these warnings;
·        general public information is not well operated: messages are made for operational security services and so are written with technical words, not understandable for every one; and, in fact, the security services warn the departmental authorities, the firemen, etc. but not directly the media nor the general public, which are sometimes informed very late;
·        meteorological events are not qualified : what does a 130 Km/h wind mean for general people ?
·        Even if the event was correctly qualified, general public would not know how to react : For instance , is it preferable to stay at home or to drive away?

6. THE NEW VIGILANCE PROCEDURE
Two parts :
The meteorological vigilance charts.
A follow-up of the meteorological situation when dangerous phenomena are foreseen.
The new system has been imagined by both Météo-France and civil protection services.
It can be divided in two parts :
the first one, the most interesting I think for or European project is a chart, combining legibility and simplicity;
The second part :a follow-op of the situation based on plain language reports.

7. FOR WHOM ?
Services in charge of safety (ministry, civil protection services, firemen, etc..) at national, regional and local levels.
Média.
General public.

8. Carte de vigilance du 8 septembre 2002

9. The meteorological vigilance chart
It defines for the next 24h the potential meteorological danger.
4 levels of vigilance, each one associated with a colour (green, yellow, orange, red)

10. The meteorological vigilance chart
The weather phenomena : strong winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, snow/blackice, avalanches
The chart is issued twice a day, broadcast at 06 and 16, and updated if necessary.

11. Définitions of the four levels of vigilance
Green (level 1) :
No special vigilance required
Yellow (level 2) :
Be careful if you practise activities dependent on meteorological risks ; some phenomena, usual for the area but occasionally dangerous (for instance mistral, thunderstorms ) are forecast ; keep informed about meteorological evolution.

12. Définitions of the four levels of vigilance
Orange (level 3) :
Be very vigilant ; dangerous meteorological phenomena are forecast ; keep informed about meteorological evolution and follow authorities’ advices.
Red (level 4) :
An absolute vigilance is required ; dangerous and exceptionnally intense meteorological phenomena are forecast ; be regularly informed about meteorological evolution and conform to the orders given by the authorities.
The four colors are in fact twice two colors :
On one side :
Orange and rouge, that lead to immediate action by services responsible for safety
Green and yellow on the other side

13. CRITERIA TO HELP IN THE CHOICE OF THE COLORS ON VIGILANCE MAP
Weather phenomenon
Criteria for issue
yellow
orange
red
Heavy WINDS
(gust, storms )
Widespread Gust in plain > 80 à 100 km/h
Widespread Gust > 100 à 130 km/h inland,
Widespread Gust
> 130 km/h inland
Heavy rains
Depends on the regional context (30 à 60mm/24h)
Depends on the regional context (60 à 100mm/24h)
Depends on the regional context
Thunderstorms
Whatever Thunderstorm
Widespread organized thunderstorms
No standard criteria
Snowfalls / Black Ice
In plain, snow lasts on ground, isolated
freezing rain
Not necessary heavy snowfall (can be five or ten cms in plain, if lasts on the ground at least a few hours)
More than 10 cm at least in plain or generalized blackice
avalanche
15/12 – 30/04
risk 3 or 4 on the european scale
risk 5
on the european scale
risk 5 (+) on the european scale

14. when orange or red area :
a concise text about the forecast phenomena
Authorities’ advices.

15. Follow-up in orange or red situations
A national bulletin : a leading message
 the first one at the same time as the map.
 the others every 6 hours
A regional bulletin :  the first one sent at the same time as the map
 the others every 3 hours

16. Follow-up in orange or red situations
Meteorological situation description in clear language
Observed and forecast data
Qualification
Authorities’ advice
Time of next report issuance

17. Distribution On « push » mode (email + some fax)
authorities responsible for safety
media
On « pull » mode
Internet :
All met reports are updated.

18. The new « meteorological vigilance » system »
Difficulties to overcome:
More pressure for the meteorological office and the authorities responsible for safety
Revision of warning procedures for services in charge of safety.
How we succeeded :
With a permanent communication with our patners
The fact that everyone receives the information at the same time leads the services responsible for safety to undergo much more pressure.
We’ve begun to convice national services, and due to the national willing of beeing more efficient in crisis cases, the national services (ministries, etc) have convinced regional then local services.
The key of the success was the permanent dialogue.
If we have to build something equivalent in Europe , we’kll have to take this difficulties into account.

19. EMMA : an European project
EMMA : European Multiservice Meteorological Awareness.
In the framework of the EUMETNET.
An unique European chart.
Expertise from each participating country.