Meeting on Climate Watch Advisory Integration with Seasonal Forecasts – Advancing Synergies Across Timescales
A recent meeting of RA VI RCCs Network Coordination Team and RCOF coordinators focused on improving collaboration between Climate Watch Advisories (CWAs) and Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs). The aim is to make climate information more coherent, relevant, and useful for early action in the region.
Participants endorsed the continued development of an integration concept, responding to long-standing user needs. Collaboration has already been strengthened through regular coordination calls and a joint RCC–RCOF meeting in April 2024. A detailed comparison of CWAs and RCOFs was completed, highlighting key differences in purpose, format, and timescales.
Surveys confirmed strong user demand for climate services that are more actionable and easy to understand. Modular formats, such as regional overviews with sub-regional annexes, were widely supported.
The meeting also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including limited forecast skill beyond week three, differences in forecasting models, and a lack of technical and human resources.
As a next step, participants agreed to begin drafting a concept note, explore pilot options, and continue engaging with modelling centres. The evolving role of RCCs in sub-seasonal services will also be clarified. A follow-up meeting was scheduled for 20 June 2025 to focus on capacity building and resource planning.
This work supports the development of more integrated, user-focused early warning services, aligned with the goals of the Global Framework for Climate Services and the Early Warnings for All initiative.