The french meteorological vigilance procedure

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The french  meteorological vigilance  procedure

• METEO-FRANCE
• Gérard Le Bars

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The french  meteorological vigilance  procedure

• The old procedure before october 2001.
• The new vigilance procedure.
• An european project.

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Background The severe weather warning procedure
until 1st october 2001

• Phenomena rain, strong winds, thunderstorms,
  snowfalls, ice and coldwave.
• Based only on messages/bulletins.
• Included two production levels the national and
  regional level.

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The severe weather warning procedure until 1st
october 2001

• Regional level
• Messages BRAM exceeding thresholds (rain,
  snow, wind,) defined with regional civil safety
  authorities.
• Issued 12 to 6 hours in advance.
• National level
• In case of very intense and widespread events
  messages ALARME.
• 10/year 12 to 36 hours in advance.

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THE WEAKNESSES OF THE OLD PROCEDURE

• Too many bulletins (esp.for thunderstorms).
• General public not well informed (storms in
  1999). (technical words, public not directly
  warned,)
• Meteorological events not qualified.
• No advice on behaviour.

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THE NEW VIGILANCE PROCEDURE

• Two parts
• The meteorological vigilance charts.
• A follow-up of the meteorological situation when
  dangerous phenomena are foreseen.

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FOR WHOM ?

• Services in charge of safety (ministry, civil
  protection services, firemen, etc..) at national,
  regional and local levels.
• Média.
• General public.

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Carte de vigilance du 8 septembre 2002
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The meteorological vigilance chart

• It defines for the next 24h the potential
  meteorological danger.
• 4 levels of vigilance, each one associated with a
  colour (green, yellow, orange, red)

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The meteorological vigilance chart

• The weather phenomena strong winds, heavy
  rains, thunderstorms, snow/blackice, avalanches
• The chart is issued twice a day, broadcast at 06
  and 16, and updated if necessary.

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Définitions of the four levels of vigilance

• Green (level 1)
• No special vigilance required
• Yellow (level 2)
• Be careful if you practise activities dependent
  on meteorological risks some phenomena, usual
  for the area but occasionally dangerous (for
  instance mistral, thunderstorms ) are forecast
  keep informed about meteorological evolution.

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Définitions of the four levels of vigilance

• Orange (level 3)
• Be very vigilant dangerous meteorological
  phenomena are forecast keep informed about
  meteorological evolution and follow authorities
  advices.
• Red (level 4)
• An absolute vigilance is required dangerous
  and exceptionnally intense meteorological
  phenomena are forecast be regularly informed
  about meteorological evolution and conform to the
  orders given by the authorities.

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CRITERIA TO HELP IN THE CHOICE OF THE COLORS ON
VIGILANCE MAP
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when orange or red area

• a concise text about the forecast phenomena
• Authorities advices.

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Follow-up in orange or red situations

• A national bulletin a leading message
• ? the first one at the same time as the map.
• ? the others every 6 hours
• A regional bulletin ? the first one sent at
  the same time as the map
• ? the others every 3 hours

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Follow-up in orange or red situations

• Meteorological situation description in clear
  language
• Observed and forecast data
• Qualification
• Authorities advice
• Time of next report issuance

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Distribution

• On  push  mode (email some fax)
• authorities responsible for safety
• media
• On  pull  mode
• Internet www.meteo.fr
• All met reports are updated.

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The new  meteorological vigilance  system  

• Difficulties to overcome
• More pressure for the meteorological office and
  the authorities responsible for safety
• Revision of warning procedures for services in
  charge of safety.
• How we succeeded
• With a permanent communication with our patners

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EMMA an European project

• EMMA European Multiservice Meteorological
  Awareness.
• In the framework of the EUMETNET.
• An unique European chart.
• Expertise from each participating country.