Moscow officials are developing a unique system for predicting hurricanes in Moscow and the Moscow Region. The first stage will require around RUR 115 mio to RUR 120 mio ($1.76 mio to $1.8 mio). The news was announced on Tuesday, May 28, by Dmitry Kiktev, Acting Director of the Meteorological Office, who spoke at a news conference at the National News Service.
“Hurricanes in Russia are rare unlike the United States where last week alone tornadoes killed nine people. Tornadoes occur far less often in Russia,” the expert noted.
He pointed out that, however, Moscow and the Moscow Region will be developing a one-of-a-kind tornado prediction system.
“The system will include around 120 observation stations on top of cell towers. Forty-three weather stations will open in the Moscow Region and Moscow,” said Dmitry Kiktev. “The first cycle of works will result in the development of a nonprobabilistic forecast system. Then we will develop a probabilistic forecast system. The new system will allow making detailed predictions for different areas in Moscow.”
Kiktev noted that the project was launched recently and the funding has so far been approved for the first year. However, it is expected that another two years of the project will be financed. Between October 2018 and October 2019 the Moscow government allocated around RUR 115 mio to RUR 120 mio ($1.76 mio to $1.8 mio) on the forecast system.