Meteo Rwanda encourages the media to prioritise weather and climate news to help prevent disasters

Meteo Rwanda staff  with journalists as they are touring its infrastructure

30 October 2015

Over 40 journalists from across Rwanda have toured the Rwanda Meteorology Agency headquarters where they were briefed on the work of the institution as well as the role of the media in reducing disasters related to weather and climate.

The showcase and media briefing was organised to help journalists understand the services and products offered by Meteo Rwanda. 

John Ntaganda Semafara, Acting Director General of Meteo Rwanda

In his opening remarks, John Ntaganda Semafara, Acting Director General of Rwanda Meteorology Agency, requested journalists to prioritise weather forecasting and climate news in their daily reporting.

He said that forecasting is a vital part of the development of the nation, and that people in Rwanda should have easy access to weather information. This, he said, would help to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters.

“You are the ones who are able to help a large number of Rwandans access weather forecasting information through your daily publications and news outlets,” he said.

The journalists toured Meteo Rwanda facilities including the modernised databank system for meteorological data collection, quality control and different applications that are used by Meteo Rwanda to deliver accurate weather forecasting.

As part of the tour, the media was also shown how Meteo Rwanda uses radar information and satellite images as a member of World Meteorological organisation. 
 

A map of Rwanda's lightning detection system

The journalists raised a questions including why they sometimes experience weather that is different from the forecast of Meteo Rwanda and challenges that the institution faces.

Twahirwa Anthony, Head of the Climate, Weather and Application Division, said that while they might like to, they cannot control the weather. He said there might be some difference in the actual weather due to global climate changes and other natural extreme events.

The media was also briefed on some of the challenges faced by Meteo Rwanda including limited capacity to offer effective meteorological services to all other sectors. In some cases, weather forecasts and warnings of extreme weather events do not reach all those who need the information, especially in rural areas, due to the absence of outreach through established media channels.

Those who attended committed to learn more about the importance of weather and climate forecasting and to find new ways to share forecasts with their audiences. 

To view photos of the showcase with media, click here. 

Related Story

• Students from Green Hills Academy visited Rwanda Meteorology Agency 

  

Declaration of the regional consultative meeting on the impending ElNino impacts and preparations for Early Actions

 Fore more details on declaration of the regional consultative meeting on the impending ElNino impacts and preparations for Early Actions  follow the link

http://igad.int/attachments/1224_DECLARATION%20OF%20THE%20regional%20consultative%20meeting%20on%20El%20Nino%20Impacts%20prevention%2021-10-2015%20.pdf

Iteganyagihe ryo kuva 21-31 Ukwakira 2015

Kuva ubu kugeza mu mpera z'uku kwezi, hateganyijwe kwiyongera k’ubuhehere mu gihugu hose.Ibicu biringaniye biteganyijwe mu masaha ya mu gitondo naho imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’imiyaga bikazaranga amasaha y’igicamunsi na nimugoroba mu gihe cyavuzwe haruguru.

Imvura iringaniye ishobora kwiyongera ikaba nyinshi iteganyijwe mu gihugu hose hagati y’italiki 23 na 25 z’uku kwezi naho iminsi isigaye akaba ari imvura nke ishyira imvura
iringaniye.

Imiterere yihariye yaburi ntara:

Umujyi wa Kigali: Hateganyijwe urunyurane rw’izuba n’ibicu mu masaha ya mugitondo, imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’umuyaga uringaniye ku gicamunsi na nimugoroba. kuva taliki 23 kugera taliki 25 Ukwakira 2015, Hateganyijwe ko imvura iziyongera ndetse ishobora kuba nyinshi ikumvikanamo inkuba ndetse ikazaba irimo n’umuyaga. Mu minsi isigaye y’ukwezi hateganyijwe imvura nke ishyira imvura iringaniye kandi ikazagera hose muri Kigali. Imvura ikazagwa hafi mu minsi icyenda yose isigaye y’ukwezi.


Intaray’Iburasirazuba: Hateganyijwe urunyurane rw’izuba n’ibicu mu masaha ya mugitondo, imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’umuyaga ku gicamunsi na nimugoroba. kuva taliki 23 kugera taliki 25 Ukwakira 2015, Hateganyijwe ko imvura iringaniye ishobora kwiyongera ikaba nyinshi ikanumvikanamo inkuba ndetse ikazaba irimo n’umuyaga mwinshi. Mu minsi isigaye y’ukwezi hateganyijwe imvura nke ishyira imvura iringaniye izagera hose mu ntara y’i Burasirazuba ikazagwa mu minsi yose hafi isigaye y’ukwezi.

Intaray’ i Burengerazuba: Hateganyijwe urunyurane rw’izuba n’ibicu mu masaha ya mugitondo, imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’umuyaga ku gicamunsi na nimugoroba. kuva taliki 23 kugera taliki 25 Ukwakira 2015, Hateganyijwe ko imvura iringaniye iziyongera ikaba nyinshi ikanumvikanamo inkuba ndetse ikazaba irimo n’umuyaga. Mu minsi isigaye y’ukwezi hateganyijwe imvura nke ishyira imvura iringaniye izagera hose mu ntara y’i Burasirazuba ikazagwa mu minsi yose isigaye y’ukwezi.

Intara y’Amajyaruguru: Hateganyijwe urunyurane rw’izuba n’ibicu mu masaha ya mugitondo, imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’umuyaga ku gicamunsi na nimugoroba. kuva taliki 23 kugera taliki 25 Ukwakira 2015, Hateganyijwe ko imvura nyinshi cyane cyane mu majyaruguru y’i Burengerazuba ikazumvikanamo inkuba ndetse ikazaba irimo n’umuyaga. Mu minsi isigaye y’ukwezi hateganyijwe imvura nke ishyira imvura iringaniye izagera hose mu ntara ikazagwa mu minsi hafi ya yose yose isigaye y’ukwezi.

Intara y’Amajyepfo: Hateganyijwe urunyurane rw’izuba n’ibicu mu masaha ya mugitondo, imvura izumvikanamo inkuba n’umuyaga ku gicamunsi na nimugoroba. kuva taliki 23 kugera taliki 25 Ukwakira 2015, Hateganyijwe ko imvura iringaniye ishobora kwiyongera ikaba nyinshi ikanumvikanamo inkuba ndetse ikazaba irimo n’umuyaga uringaniye. Mu minsi isigaye y’ukwezi hateganyijwe imvura nke ishyira imvura iringaniye izagera hose mu ntara y’Amajyepfo ikazagwa mu minsi hafi ya yose isigaye y’ukwezi mu duce twinsi twiyi ntara.

N.B: Iri teganyagihe rikwiye kurebwa hitabwa no ku iteganyagihe rya buri munsi, iry’iminsi 3 n’iry’iminsi 5 ritangwa n’ishami rishinzwe iteganyagihe mu kigo kigihugu cy’ubumenyi bw’ikirere.

Students from Green Hills Academy visited Rwanda Meteorology Agency

A group of 128 students who do Geography at Green Hills Academy on this Thursday 22^nd October visited Rwanda Meteorology Agency headquarter in Gitega Sector, Nyarugenge District.

The aim of the visit is to get opportunity to visit the weather stations at Meteo Rwanda and gain an understanding of how and why weather elements are measured and recorded.

At Meteo Rwanda, the students toured the weather station and forecasting division whereby they managed to see how the weather prediction is done and tips on how to set a weather station.

The students raised a couple of questions on Meteo Rwanda products and their impact on Rwanda Citizens.

Mr Mbati MUGUNGA MATHIEU, a senior forecaster at Meteo Rwanda has told them that the products of Meteo Rwanda help different institutions in their planning. He highlighted that the Agricultural sector use Meteo Rwanda products for planning of agricultural seasons. 

Senior Forecaster MBATI MATHIEU MUGUNGA explaining to the Students some of Meteo Rwanda Products

He added that those in infrastructure sector use Meteo Rwanda products for better planning while dealing with different constructions and so on. 

Ms Jacqueline UWIMANA a teacher at Green Hills Academy who was leading the team described the trip as helpful because students managed to see and touch on equipment they have been learning in theories without practical part.

“The trip was helpful. The students had in their mind pictures of different equipment that are used in weather forecasting but now they have seen them and they have learned a lot on their operations” said UWIMANA.

Ms UWIMANA added that the students witnessed why sometimes Meteo Rwanda predicts the rain but it do not rain. They learned that there are many factors that might cause the rain not to rain including those Meteo Rwanda do not have control over.

The student from Green Hills Academy comes following others from Bumbogo Secondary School and APAGIE MUSHA in only one Month.

Services of Meteo Rwanda are used both in planning for agricultural activities, disaster management. The researchers s and Academicians use them also as education materials.