Click Here to Return to Home Page

Welcome to the Introduction to Impact-Based Forecast Warning Systems (IBFWS) self-paced online course. 

Required time to complete:  2 to 2.5 hours

This course makes use of text, interactive graphics, case-studies and activities to introduce the basic concepts of impact-based forecast warning systems. After completing this course you will be better equipped to help your organization advance an impact-based approach in hydro-meteorological services, disaster risk reduction and related areas. 

The content of this course is based primarily on the following documents: 

Course Overview:

  • Module 1: Fundamentals of IBFWS (~25 min.)
  • Module 2: Roadmap to the IBFWS Paradigm (~50 min.)
  • Module 3: Best Practises for Collaboration and Strategic Partnerships in IBFWS (~50 min.)
  • Module 4: Effective Communications Strategies for Impacts-Based Warnings (~30 min.)

Each module concludes with a knowledge check to help you assess your learning. You must complete each module before you may access the knowledge check. In order to receive credit for the course you must score at least 70% on the final exam. The course will take approximately 2 to 2.5 hours to complete, including the final exam.  

Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Describe the potential benefits offered by using an IBFWS approach to reduce weather-related impacts, and how this differs from a traditional weather forecasting paradigm.
  2. Explain the key concepts and tools needed for designing and implementing a roadmap to move your organisation toward an impact-based warning paradigm. 
  3. Explain the importance of building collaboration and partnerships, and recommended strategies for their successful implementation as part of developing IBFWS. 
  4. Describe recommended strategies and methods for effectively communicating risk to support decision-making under an IBFWS paradigm.  

Target Audiences:

Primary: 

  • Personnel from the NMHSs including meteorologists, forecasters, hydrologists, staff involved in developing partnership agreements, communicators, especially functional operational personnel. 
  • Decision-makers of the partnering DRCPAs who are at the forefront of providing products and/or services which support Disaster Risk Reduction efforts, and may be experienced in collaborating with NMHSs. 
  • Broadcast Meteorologists who play an important role in weather and disaster-related communications with other media and with the public. 
  • NGOs involved in supporting humanitarian activities, academia, specific sectors among which are health, agriculture, transport.

Secondary: 

  • Other key stakeholders from the media, the public, specific communities and other users that work with the NMHSs. 


Last modified: Thursday, 14 December 2023, 1:27 AM