4 responses on El Niño agreed by ASEAN meteorological service

After ASEAN Meteorological Conference, representatives of national meteorological and hydrological services agreed on four preparatory steps to respond to El Niño.

At the closing session of the 47th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics, delegates highlighted the need to maintain close connectivity among national meteorological and hydrological services and to translate warning information into practical action to protect communities in a timely manner.

Representatives from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the ASEAN Secretariat proposed extending Viet Nam’s initiative by institutionalizing the conference as a regular activity alongside meetings of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation and the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Space, Earth, and Ocean Sciences.

Early warning driving response actions

Following focused sessions on El Niño forecasting, national response scenarios, and technical cooperation, the Annual Meeting of ASEAN Meteorological and Hydrological Services, hosted by the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, successfully concluded entire agenda.

Under the theme “Strengthening Regional Preparedness and Response to El Niño Impacts in ASEAN (2026-2027),” the conference focused on sharing practical experience in rainfall forecasting, numerical weather prediction, and AI application across observation and forecasting workflows. The conference also discussed mechanisms to expand cooperation with international organizations and development partners to mobilize expertise, transfer technology, and narrow the gap in regional warning capacities.

The effectiveness of early warning systems must be ensured across all four pillars: risk identification, hazard monitoring, clear communication of warning information, and providing a solid foundation for early action on the ground. This reflects the core spirit of the WMO's “Early Warnings for All” (EW4All) initiative.

ASEAN national meteorological and hydrological services also discussed plans for trial cloud-seeding operations to combat severe droughts and water shortages as El Niño affects multiple regions.

The representative of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration emphasized that the pressing question today is how effectively coordination can be achieved in El Niño preparedness. The most practical solution to enhancing multinational response capacity lies in sharing forecasts, data, tools, and expertise among meteorological and hydrological services. The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration proposed maintaining the newly established network connecting national meteorological and hydrological services, aiming to ensure an effective, reliable early warning system that reaches every ASEAN citizen.

Proposal to extend Viet Nam’s initiative

Mr. Ben Churchill, Regional Director for Asia and the South-West Pacific at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO-RAP), affirmed that WMO stands ready to assist member states in accessing essential climate information to strengthen preparedness and mitigate losses caused by El Niño.

The WMO-RAP representative reaffirmed the commitment to accompany and deepen strategic partnership with the ASEAN block. Enhancing the exchange of information on ongoing and pipeline projects will allow for a more precise identification of each country’s needs, thereby effectively mobilizing available resources.

Mr. Ben Churchill recommended maintaining the in-depth exchange mechanism between ASEAN meteorological and hydrological services and development partners as a regular activity, integrated with the meetings of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Space, Earth, and Ocean Sciences (SC-EOSS). He also acknowledged and highly commended Vietnam’s initiative and leadership in hosting the specialized side conference alongside the 90th COSTI Meeting in Da Nang.

Echoing this view, the ASEAN Secretariat representative proposed that the Brunei meteorological authority, host of the COSTI-91 Meeting in 2027, organize a similar event following Vietnam’s model this year.

Against the backdrop of increasingly anomalous natural disasters and extreme weather events that transcend national borders, ASEAN meteorological and hydrological services agreed to swiftly integrate the outcomes achieved at the Da Nang conference into their routine operational activities.

Khanh Ly