The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Association II (Asia) Research Development Project/19th Hangzhou Asian Games Research Development Project on Convective-scale Ensemble Prediction and Application (HangzhouRDP) was held in Hangzhou from July 10 to 13. More than 50 representatives from the WMO Secretariat, domestic and international meteorological departments, as well as relevant universities and research institutions, participated in the meeting in a hybrid mode.

During the meeting, the advancements made in meteorological service for the Hangzhou Asian Games and large cities, as well as the successful implementation of the HangzhouRDP, were thoroughly reviewed. The participants also engaged in extensive discussions regarding the scientific objectives, technical challenges, and future implementation plans of the HangzhouRDP. Moreover, valuable experiences in convective scale ensemble forecast techniques and meteorological service for Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games were shared with the WMO members.

The HangzhouRDP is a WMO RA II Research Development Project led jointly by Zhejiang Meteorological Service and CMA Earth System Modelling and Prediction Centre (CEMC). And CEMC aims to develop higher spatiotemporal resolution (at hundred-meters scale and minute scale) application products and carry out demonstration and application by developing convective-scale ensemble prediction system and utilizing minute-scale multi-source observation data. The project will help promote the localization and application of regional numerical models and convective-scale numerical prediction system in Zhejiang. The HangzhouRDP utilizes forecast uncertainty information to enhance the early warning capabilities for high-impact weather events, and provides precise meteorological services at the hundred-meters scale and minute scale for the Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games. This project will facilitate the advancement of research-oriented business technology cooperation among RA II members in crucial areas, fostering the creation of an open and collaborative research cooperation platform.

It is understood that CEMC, as the WMO Regional Meteorological Center for Global Deterministic Numerical Weather Prediction and the Global Ensemble Numerical Prediction Meteorological Center, is actively aligned with the “WMO Strategic Plan 2020-2023”. In fulfilling its responsibilities, CEMC actively participates in the development of WMO's Global Data Processing and Forecasting System (GDPFS). Additionally, it assumes pivotal roles as the RA II Regional Focal Points on Research, the RA II working group on Numerical Experimentation (WMO WGNE), the Severe Weather Forecasting Programme (WMO SWFP), and Nuclear Emergency Response. Since the inception of the project, CEMC has maintained a close collaboration with Zhejiang Meteorological Service. Together, they have successfully completed the localized deployment of 1-km 1-hour CMA-MESO and 3-km convective-scale ensemble forecast systems and provided a variety of real-time forecast products.