HIGHWAY: High Impact Weather Lake System

Summary

This project will address the lack of much needed in-situ observations and data availability both for research and meteorological operational purposes.  Enhanced observations will be used to increase the scientific knowledge of storm initiation, evolution and development of severe weather over the lake and provide additional guidance to operational forecasters in providing regular weather forecasts and severe weather warnings for fishing boats and small transport vessels on Lake Victoria.  Innovative nowcasting and forecasting products will be developed, validated and implemented to improve early warnings of high impact weather in the region, with dissemination of these bulletins distributed widely through the East African region via local radio and mobile phones.   This project is sponsored by the United Kingdom’s Weather and Climate for Information Services (WISER) for Africa program under UK Department for International Development (DFID), providing funding to the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the region, to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the UK Meteorological Office (UKMO) and to NCAR.