The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has launched a new self-paced online course to help practitioners enhance their communication strategies.
Because communication is not an add-on — it is a core component of effective agrometeorological services. When communication fails, information may arrive too late, be misunderstood, or simply not be used at all.

This course is designed for agrometeorologists, extension agents, climate service providers, and anyone working with farmers and rural communities to co-produce and deliver climate information that matters.

The training includes 6 structured lessons (approx. 2 hours total) and offers a WMO digital badge upon successful completion.

Whether you’re in the field or shaping policy, this course offers practical guidance to help you deliver climate information that is timely, relevant, and usable.

Start the course here

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The final two days (27 and 28 November 2025) will be dedicated to the Third plenary meeting of the Consortium of WMO Education and Training Collaborating Partners (CONECT-3), which will focus on strengthening coordination and sustainability in capacity development efforts.

Call for Contributions is open until 29 August 2025
Submit your contribution via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/AQN3xFmfLN

Registration is open!
All participants have to complete the registration via the following link:
https://forms.office.com/e/g2Ypp2PzKz

Registration deadlines
– In-person attendance (Florence, Italy): Register by 15 September 2025
– Online participation: Register by 10 November 2025

See more information at the Third Announcement.
Those planning to attend in-person can refer to the Information Note for In-Person Participants for practical details regarding venue, accommodation, logistics and visa arrangement.
More information and questions: organizers@calmet.org

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 The Human Side of Climate Risk

While meteorologists and hydrologists excel at predicting when and where floods will strike, there’s a crucial piece of the puzzle that’s often overlooked: how communities actually experience, understand, and respond to these threats. This is where sociology steps in, offering game-changing insights that can make the difference between effective disaster management and tragic outcomes.

Real-World Solutions from Spain

The University of Alicante has a research team dedicated to these topics. Among the leading names is Guadalupe Ortiz, who recently held a seminar at the CNR IBE in Sesto Fiorentino, presenting their research activities and main results. The team has developed practical tools that put people at the center of flood risk management. Here’s what they’ve discovered from their recent projects:

1. Decoding Crisis Communication

The team analyzed 112 emergency calls during a severe flood event in Spain, uncovering critical patterns in how people communicate during disasters. This research reveals what actually works in crisis communication – and what doesn’t.

2. Mapping Social Impact and Community Strength

Not all communities are equally vulnerable to floods. The researchers have developed connections between social impacts and social capacities, creating a self-assessment tool that helps local risk managers understand their community’s unique strengths and vulnerabilities.

3. Building Resilient Communities

The team has created a model for designing and evaluating programs that build social capacity – helping communities prepare for, respond to, and adapt to flood risks more effectively.

Why This Matters for Climate Services

Integrating social science into hydrometeorological risk management isn’t just academic theory – it’s about creating more equitable and effective interventions. When we understand the human dimensions of climate risk, we can:

– Design communication strategies that actually reach and resonate with at-risk communities
– Identify which neighbourhoods need the most support before disasters strike
– Build long-term resilience that goes beyond technical solutions

The future of climate services isn’t just about better predictions – it’s about better understanding the communities we serve.

Watch the Webinar

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We close this inspiring edition with a lecture by Francesco Ferrini (University of Florence): “Urban Forestry vs. Urban Heat: Reclaiming the Micro-Climate for Livable Cities.”
Rethinking the city for a climate-challenged future!

Thank you to all participants for making this edition truly special!

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These are the key topics that will be discussed during a meeting at the Accademia dei Georgofili in Florence on March 11. Experts from leading institutions will explore climate change adaptation strategies, biodiversity’s role in agricultural resilience, precision farming, meteorological services for risk reduction, and technological innovations for climate monitoring.

Program Highlights

9:30 AM – Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:00 AM – Key Presentations:
– Climate Change and Agriculture – Marco Bindi, Accademia dei Georgofili, University of Florence
– Agricultural Biodiversity as an Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change – Chiara Piccini, CNR-IBE
– Agrometeorology and Environmental Sustainability – Simone Orlandini, Accademia dei Georgofili, University of Florence, Fondazione Clima e Sostenibilità
– Agrometeorological Services in West Africa: From Early Warning for Food Security to Supporting Smallholder Farmers – Vieri Tarchiani, CNR-IBE
– Precision Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation – Alessandro Matese, CNR-IBE
– Operational Meteorology for Agroclimatic Risk Mitigation – Bernardo Gozzini, Accademia dei Georgofili, CNR-IBE, LaMMA
– New Technologies for Climate and Water Stress Monitoring – Ramona Magno, CNR-IBE
12:30 PM – Discussion and Closing Remarks

This event provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the progress of agrometeorological research and its role in ensuring the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems in the face of climate change. Join us for insightful discussions and expert perspectives on the future of climate-smart agriculture.

Please Note that participation is subject to prior registration by filling out the following form by 2:00 PM on Monday, March 10, 2025: https://forms.gle/CQaTtkTwy2yLdWLy8.

Link: https://www.georgofili.it/contenuti/agrometeorologia-e-cambiamenti-climatici-50-anni-di-ricerca-al-servizio-dell-agricoltura/24705

The post Agrometeorology and Climate Change: 50 Years of Research Supporting Agriculture appeared first on climateservices.it CNR-IBE.

Snowfall contributions, in terms of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), show different trends depending on the geographic area, with a recovery in the Alps compared to last season, but still scarce snowfall in the Apennines. However, overall, there remains a 58% deficit compared to the 2011-2023 median (CIMA Foundation).

Reservoirs in Sardinia, Sicily, and Apulia (Capitanata) contain 3% to 15% less water than in the same period in 2023, while Basilicata shows a slight increase of 1% (see graph).

Regarding the large lakes of northern Italy, as of February 10, 2025, they all show filling levels well above average, mainly due to rainfall between late January and early February.

Hydroelectric energy production in Sicily during the week of January 27 to February 2 saw a significant increase compared to the previous year, as well as compared to other years such as 2023, 2021, and 2018.

Forecast for the Coming Months
Regarding air temperatures for the March-May 2025 quarter, data from major European medium-range forecasting centers indicate above-average values across all of Europe, with a probability ranging from 60% to 100%. Mediterranean sea surface temperatures are also expected to remain above average throughout the quarter, with a probability of 70%-100%.

As for precipitation, forecasts indicate above-average values over parts of Scandinavia. Across the rest of the continent, values are expected to remain at average levels or, with a probability between 40% and 50%, below average.

Read the full bulletin with graphs on droughtcentral.it  >>

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