Accurately forecasting cyclones, floods and other natural disasters allows governments to communicate early warnings to potential victims that could save thousands of lives.

The Orissa cyclone of 1999 that claimed nearly 10,000 lives illustrates the need for just such a forecasting capability in India. Linking Indian scientists with U.S. scientists and weather experts from the United States Geological Society (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USAID is helping India respond to the need by creating and improving India’s climate forecasting and early warning systems.

Through training, consultation and transfers of technology, the U.S. and India are building climate forecasting and early warning systems that:

• Bolster India’s cyclone tracking abilities
• Help India identify and follow severe storms that cause flash flooding at the local level
• Forecast floods
• Warn about life-threatening extreme temperatures
• Improve early warning systems that notify people of pending disasters, allowing disaster response mechanisms to be set in motion.