Gaza: The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Palestinian Meteorological Directorate (PMD) announced that the rain monitoring station in Gaza is currently out of service following the recent Israeli aggression that began on October 7th, 2023. This announcement was made on World Meteorological Day, celebrated annually on March 23rd by the World Meteorological Organization.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the theme for this year's World Meteorological Day is "Closing the early warning gap together." The PCBS and PMD highlighted that the Gaza Strip, previously equipped with 12 rain monitoring stations, has suffered a total loss of data due to the destruction of these stations. As a result, data from these stations will not be included in the current meteorological report.
Early warning systems are crucial for addressing unusual weather conditions that could threaten lives and property. Between 2021 and 2022, the Meteorology Department partnered with several organizations to improve both technical and human infrastructure for early warning systems. This included the installation of 11 meteorological stations and two flood measurement stations, as well as the development of a forecast system that connects to international data sources, providing direct warnings to authorities and citizens.
Additionally, a project is underway to improve agricultural adaptation to climate change. This project involves the installation of nine new monitoring stations and an early warning system to inform farmers about weather hazards affecting crops.
Based on PMD's data, the 2024/2025 rainy season in the West Bank has experienced low and scarce precipitation, attributed to rising temperatures and infrequent rainfall. Rainfall was more abundant in the northern and central regions compared to the southern areas. Salfit Station recorded the highest rainfall at 332 mm, which is 48% of the mean average, while Jericho Station recorded the lowest at 54.8 mm, representing 33% of the mean average.
