Currently many areas of New Zealand are experiencing severe drought. Could the impacts of drought have been minimized with an effective long-range warning system (LRWS)?

Three-stage warning systems that conduct short, medium and seasonal forecasting can prepare industries and communities for both severe weather events and the impacts of El Niño.

When ocean conditions suggest that an El Niño may be forming, long-range warnings can be issued, allowing industries and communities to respond and become more resilient.

Some of the important topics discussed are:

Timing the warnings – How early does a LRWS need to be to help governments make effective responses?

LRWS communication challenges – How do systems alert industries and communities in remote areas?

Global warming – How will it impact the El Niño ?