1. Impact-Based Forecast and Warnings Services

2. What is Impact-based Forecasting?
A fundamental change in focus
From
What the weather will BE To
What the weather will DO

3. Why Impact-based Forecasting?
Arises naturally from a focus on users needs
Weather information normally just one “input” into decision- making by users
Increasing the relevance of weather information to users
Increasing the awareness of forecasters and others within meteorology on users needs and concerns.

4. Issues to Address
Forecasting impact is more important than purely forecasting the meteorology; impact forecasts are more readily understood by:
Those at risk and;
Those responsible for mitigating those risks
Meteorologists often are reluctant to forecast impact
Extensive knowledge of vulnerability and exposure are needed

5. Users and Partnerships
Implication – Forecasters need to know something of the business and the concerns of their users.
Forecasters need to be able to anticipate the possible impacts of different weather scenarios on the business of their users.
Why can the users not do this for themselves?
A Fundamental Problem – often the users do not know what they want! 5

6. Forecasters Training
Additional Skills now needed:
Understanding of Probability, to better exploit EPS products
“Soft” Skills, e.g.
Communication
Listening
Presentation
“Situational Awareness” 6

7. Partnerships and Collaboration
Forecasters need to work in partnership with users, especially other government agencies / stakeholders (emergency response, mapping agencies, transport, public, etc).
Data sharing among different agencies and departments will be vital (demographic, GIS and mapping, economic etc.)
Understanding of Impacts will come partly from experience, partly from improved modelling of vulnerabilities and exposure. 7

8. Future Role of the Forecaster
If the Forecaster does not do this work – who will?
Forecasters now have access to information about possible evolutions of weather over the next days.
Their ability to understand and contextualise this information will be key to their success.
Users will also need training!
Especially Emergency Management 8

9. Future Role of the Forecaster
How best to arrange this in practice?
Specialised Meteorologists guiding “bench” forecasters? OR
“Bench” forecasters acquiring specialisations? 9

10. Thank you 谢谢