The World Meteorological Day is celebrated on, March 23, which aims to developed hazards including tropical cyclones, heavy rain, heat waves, and drought.

This year the theme for the World Meteorological day 2018 is "weather- ready, climate smart".

Background

The International Meteorological Organization was established at the first International Meteorological Congress in Vienna, Austria, in 1873. The organization aimed to establish meteorological station networks. These networks were linked by telegraph and improved weather forecasts. This contributed to shipping services' safety and efficiency.

The International Meteorological Organization became the World Meteorological Organization on March 23, 1950. It became the UN's specialized agency for meteorology, operational hydrology and related geophysical sciences in 1951.

Themes

Recent themes of World Meteorological Day have been:

Weather, climate and the air we breathe (2009).

Observing our planet for a better future (2008).

Polar meteorology: Understanding global impacts (2007).

Preventing and mitigating natural disasters (2006).

Weather, climate, water and sustainable development (2005).

Weather, climate, water in the information age (2004).

Our future climate (2003).

A new theme is allocated to each different year for World Meteorological Day.

The World Meteorological Organization acts a significant role in providing safety and welfare to the people. Its work is essential in providing food security, water resources and transport. World Meteorological Day has been observed since 1961.