Ouagadougou: The Burkinabe government inaugurated a new weather forecasting and monitoring room on Monday, designed to enhance the real-time monitoring and anticipation of climate risks. This initiative, launched to coincide with World Meteorological Day, underscores the government's commitment to linking meteorology with infrastructure and national resilience, as emphasized by the Minister in charge of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Emile Zerbo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the inauguration marks a significant enhancement of the national observation network, which now boasts 260 automatic stations, over 140 conventional stations, and a lightning detection network. The new forecasting center will function continuously, 24/7, enabling constant surveillance of weather and climate conditions across Burkina Faso.
Describing the new facility as a "giant step" forward, the Director General of the National Meteorological Agency (ANAM), Mariam Tidiga, highlighted the infrastructure's role in bolstering national capabilities. The room, equipped with numerous workstations for public forecasting and specialized services, is backed by advanced technological tools, including high-resolution numerical models. Burkina Faso's forecasting model now achieves a resolution of three kilometers, a marked improvement over the 25 to 50 kilometers standard in some international centers.
Ms. Tidiga emphasized the goal of achieving a resolution of one kilometer to enhance forecast precision further. "With each kilometer, we can refine the information and better anticipate weather phenomena," she explained. Automated bulletin production tools have also been developed to ensure timely dissemination of information, reaching populations "on time and to the last mile."
The platform extends its services beyond the general public, offering tailored weather services to sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, mining, and construction. Seasonal forecasts for the 2026 agricultural season are already underway, aimed at informing decisions by authorities and producers, with updates reflecting atmospheric changes.
The World Meteorological Day celebrations will feature a high-level panel discussing the intersection of meteorology and infrastructure, along with workshops tomorrow, March 24, 2026, to consolidate insights from the Hydromet and ClimSa projects, supported by the WMO. The event, themed "Observe today, protect tomorrow," includes participation from the National Meteorological Services of Mali and Niger.