Météo-France has begun construction of a new 50m tower for its weather radar in Sembadel, Haute-Loire, with the intention of improving the accuracy of meteorological observations.

The radar, installed in 1996, is part of Météo-France’s network of 39 radars and can detect precipitation up to 180km away. It plays a role in monitoring severe weather events, including intense rainfall episodes typical of the Cévennes region. However, the radar’s location near forested areas has led to reduced performance in recent years due to the growth of tall trees. To address this, France’s Ministry of Ecological Transition has funded the construction of a higher tower, which will become the tallest weather radar structure in the country.

Continue reading Météo-France begins construction of France’s tallest weather radar tower in Sembadel at Meteorological Technology International.

A new European climate report has highlighted widespread temperature extremes, shrinking ice and increasing environmental pressures across the continent.

The European State of the Climate (ESOTC) 2025 report, produced by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)and the World Meteorological Organization, identifies Europe as the fastest-warming continent, with impacts ranging from record heat waves to biodiversity loss.

According to the report, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures in 2025. A three-week heat wave in sub-Arctic Fennoscandia saw temperatures exceed 30°C within the Arctic Circle. Furthermore, overall cold extremes declined, with fewer freezing days recorded across much of the continent.

Continue reading European climate report highlights record heat, glacier loss and rising extremes at Meteorological Technology International.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated a growing likelihood that El Niño conditions will develop from mid-2026, with potential impacts on global temperature and rainfall patterns.

According to the agency’s latest Global Seasonal Climate Update, sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are rising, pointing to a possible return of El Niño as early as May-July 2026. Forecasts suggest a “nearly global dominance of above-normal land surface temperatures” during the upcoming three-month period.

Wilfran Moufouma Okia, chief of climate prediction at the WMO, said, “After a period of neutral conditions at the start of the year, climate models are now strongly aligned, and there is high confidence in the onset of El Niño, followed by further intensification in the months that follow.”

He added that uncertainty remains due to the “spring predictability barrier,” a known limitation in forecasting at this time of year, though confidence typically improves after April.

Continue reading WMO signals increasing likelihood of El Niño developing in 2026 at Meteorological Technology International.

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) has partnered with Climavision to integrate gap-filling weather radar data into emergency management operations across the state, aiming to improve forecasting. Climavision has operated three radar systems in Alabama since 2021, targeting regions historically considered ‘radar gaps’ – areas where lower atmospheric conditions are not captured by conventional systems. Under the new agreement, this data will now be shared statewide to support operational decision-making, resource allocation and public communication.

The partnership reflects a broader trend toward public-private collaboration to enhance weather monitoring without requiring states to invest in and maintain their own radar infrastructure.

Continue reading Alabama partners with Climavision to expand weather radar coverage statewide at Meteorological Technology International.

China’s research icebreaker Xuelong has returned after a 160-day Antarctic expedition, completing meteorological research activities during a voyage covering more than 34,000 nautical miles.

The mission formed part of China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition and included extensive atmospheric and weather observations at Zhongshan Station and Great Wall Station.

During the expedition, the meteorological team carried out routine observations of cloud cover, visibility and weather conditions, alongside measurements of temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, radiation and sunshine. Monitoring of greenhouse and reactive gases was also conducted to support ongoing climate and atmospheric research.

The team also undertook two experimental observation programs aimed at improving data accuracy and coverage.

Continue reading China completes Antarctic meteorological research mission with Xuelong icebreaker at Meteorological Technology International.

New research from Virginia Tech has identified an atmospheric shift that can rapidly trigger “flash droughts” in Puerto Rico, offering insight that could support earlier warning systems and preparedness.

The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, examines how drought conditions on the island can develop within days rather than weeks or months.

Flash drought can take hold in as little as five to 10 days, leaving limited time for response. This can disrupt agriculture, water supplies and ecosystems, increasing the risk of crop losses and water shortages.

Researchers identified a key change in atmospheric behavior as the trigger.

Continue reading Study identifies atmospheric trigger behind flash droughts in Puerto Rico at Meteorological Technology International.

Researchers have developed a new deep learning-based method to measure ocean surface currents using data from existing weather satellites, offering higher-resolution insights into interactions between the ocean and atmosphere.

The approach, known as GOFlow (Geostationary Ocean Flow), analyzes thermal imagery from geostationary weather satellites to track how ocean surface temperature patterns evolve over time. By applying artificial intelligence, the system can infer the movement of underlying currents at a much finer temporal and spatial scale than traditional methods.

The study, published in Nature Geoscience, was led by scientists from the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography and collaborating institutions.

Continue reading AI tool uses weather satellite data to map ocean currents in near real time at Meteorological Technology International.

A new open-access tool designed to assess the accuracy of climate models has been launched by an international team of researchers, significantly reducing the time required for evaluation.

The Rapid Evaluation Framework (REF) was developed by scientists involved in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP), a global initiative that supports the development and comparison of climate models used in major assessments, including those by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Climate models simulate interactions between the atmosphere, oceans and land surface to help scientists understand past climate trends and project future changes. Evaluating how well these models reflect real-world conditions has traditionally been a time-consuming process, often taking months.

Continue reading New tool speeds up climate model evaluation at Meteorological Technology International.

Xiong’an National Climate Observatory was officially inaugurated on April 1 in Xiong’an New Area, Hebei. The facility – China’s 27th national climate observatory – will transmit basic meteorological observation data in real time to the TianQing meteorological big data cloud platform, supporting climate monitoring and assessment, high-resolution forecasting, early warning and sector-specific meteorological services.

National climate observatories in China are ground-based, comprehensive stations designed for long-term, continuous and integrated observation of the climate system and its interactions. They also serve as platforms for scientific research, collaboration and talent development.

The new observatory is expected to support regional priorities in Xiong’an, including ecological protection of Baiyangdian Lake, urban safety operations and the development of emerging sectors such as the low-altitude economy, all of which require higher-precision and continuous climate observations.

Continue reading China inaugurates 27th national climate observatory in Hebei at Meteorological Technology International.

A regional training initiative is underway to strengthen flood forecasting capabilities in Central Africa, where floods are becoming more frequent and severe.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in collaboration with the AGRHYMET Regional Center and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), is supporting the development of the FANFAR river flood forecasting system across the region.

FANFAR provides forecasts of river flood risk up to 10 days in advance, using hydrological modeling of major river basins alongside meteorological data.

The initiative follows significant flooding events in 2024, when floods in Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo affected 1.9 million and 1.2 million people respectively, according to OCHA.

Continue reading Regional training aims to improve flood forecasting in Central Africa at Meteorological Technology International.