The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) is now providing 24-hour marine weather forecasts for fishermen and other small craft operators in the Tanzanian region of Lake Victoria through the High Impact Weather Lake System (HIGHWAY) project. The format, content, weather icons and warning colours follow those already used by the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) and the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in their marine weather forecasts for their corresponding regions of Lake Victoria. This harmonization is bringing the countries around the lake one step closer to developing a fully integrated early warning system. The forecasts are also shared through a WhatsApp group that includes the forecasting offices of UNMA and KMD.
In November 2019, TMA hosted an Impact-based Early Warning Service (EWS) workshop for its stakeholders in order to raise awareness of the project. The workshop promoted the main media channels for disseminating forecasts to the general public, and more specifically the fisheries sector: television, radio, newspapers, SMS, websites and social media. Currently, warnings are only being disseminated through a WhatsApp group open to all subscribers and through the Beach Management Unit; the others will soon follow.
