The Benefits and Challenges of Implementing Impact-Based Severe Weather Warning Systems: Perspectives of Weather, Flood, and Emergency Management Personnel

Abstract Warnings about impending hazards help to minimize the impacts and reduce risk of hazard through encouraging an appropriate timely behavioral response. Many hydrometeorological agencies are moving toward impact-based forecast warning (IBFW) systems, as encouraged by World Meteorological Organization. Yet little research has been conducted on such systems from perspectives who or would be involved in their implementation. We investigated challenges benefits IBFW perceived participants internationally within New Zealand. Interviews workshops were held with meteorologists weather forecasters, flood forecasters hydrologists, emergency managers. found that implementing included a increase understanding potential public, added awareness antecedent conditions possible reduction “false alarms,” increased interagency communication. Challenges identified whether system should designed for individuals society, lack impact data, verification warnings based impacts, conflict roles responsibilities, conflicting messages, burden providing information perception benefit return. argue IBFWs could individual members focus vulnerability capacities, more data need collected stored inform future warnings. Increased coordination assist rapid decision-making success IBFWs.