World Meteorological Organization

With the overall objective of providing technical guidance and global coordination in support of the delivery of severe weather forecasting services in various sub-regions, the Advisory Group on Severe Weather Forecasting (AG-SWF) shall:

1. Develop and submit proposals for standards and technical guidance for WMO technical regulations in relation to severe weather forecasting (SWF) activities in consultation with the Standing Committee on Data Processing for Applied Earth System Modelling and Prediction (SC-ESMP) under INFCOM
2. Consider and advise on the concept, objectives, expected benefits/costs, strategy, action plan and provide recommendations to the further development of the existing and new SWF regional subprogrammes and their transition to operation, making proposals where necessary for any remedial actions
3. Monitor and evaluate the progress, the usefulness and the efficiency of SWF regional sub- programmes and suggest recommendations as appropriate
4. Support the integration of new components in regional SWF, including addressing synergies with other regional programmes, projects and activities (of WMO, UNESCO/IOC, UNESCO/IHP, WB etc.) to provide operational support for multi-hazard early warning services (MHEWS)
5. Support the relevant subsidiary bodies in implementing the relevant resolutions, decisions or recommendations of the Congress and the Executive Council
6. Review and updating of the regional SWF guidance documents (Overall Plan and Guidebook)
7. Provide technical guidance for sharing of satellite data & numerical model output among regional SWF participating countries and support sharing of technical knowledge among NMHSs
8. Develop recommendations to ensure the effective contribution of the World Meteorological Centres (WMCs) and to support the full and sustainable participation of NMHSs, including those from least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in regional SWF activities and to provide guidance for downscaling activities that serve national MHEWS
9. Provision of recommendations on capacity building, promotion of the research to operations (R2O) process and strengthening linkages with the Research Board
10. Liaise with relevant subsidiary bodies of WMO to support:
a) contributions of the GDPFS and benefits of the new developments and advances in Earth System Prediction (ESP) for regional SWF activities
b) regional SWF synergies and collaboration with other relevant operational activities, initiatives and systems including FFGS, CIFI, TCP etc. and regional SWF integration into MHEWS interoperable environment as appropriate and feasible
c) flood forecasting activities of WMO by liaising with Flood Forecasting Initiative-Advisory Group (FFI-AG)

Membership/Composition:
• Designated ‘expert’ representation from those Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) for SWF mandated by Congress/Executive Council to provide severe weather forecasting guidance to the NMHSs in the specified sub-regions. The chair and vice-chair will be selected and notified according to the Rules of Procedure for Technical Commissions.
• Designated ‘associate expert’ representation from those regional SWF operational centres that whilst not RSMCs for SWF, are providing sub-regional severe weather forecasting guidance as part of the WMO SWF Programme.
• A representative from a contributing World Meteorological Centre (WMC) as appropriate (to be appointed in consultation with chair of SC-ESMP under INFCOM) (He/she would collect information from all contributing WMCs to provide updates to the advisory group)
• Technical Focal Point(s) to be selected from relevant specific areas as/if needed (subject to approval by the President of SERCOM)

Modalities of work:
• Correspondence including email exchange and other appropriate online interactions as needed
• Virtual meetings every six months, or as the needs arise
• Face to face meeting every two years or as needs arise if agreed to by the SERCOM/SC- DRR
• Report regularly (e.g. every six months and/or after every virtual or face-to-face meeting), through the chairperson and in writing, to the SC-DRR.