Shanghai will provide residents with more accurate weather forecasts, based on a new rule approved by the city’s legislature.

The rule approved by the Standing Committee of the 16th Shanghai People’s Congress in late September will come into force on November 1 and provide detailed provisions on weather forecasts and warning services.

It states that local weather authorities must issue public forecasts for the next 48 hours on a regular, rolling basis. In addition, before major holidays and important events at the national and municipal level, they will publish forecasts for the next three to seven days and update them in a timely manner based on changing weather conditions.

He also emphasizes that weather services should take into account the elderly and international residents.

“We have already made adjustments to some of our weather information broadcast channels, such as mini programs and new media, mainly by optimizing them for elderly users and adding English services,” Song said Qian, deputy head of the bureau’s policy and regulation division. .

Expats can check the latest weather information provided by local weather authorities by checking the English version of Suishenban, the city’s public service platform, according to Song.

The rule also specifies that weather authorities should unify and standardize the warning dissemination system for public forecasts and disaster alerts.

Services beyond information

At the same time, telecommunications must provide fast, accurate and free services, while transmitting weather information to its users.

“We have established a publication mechanism with the three major telecom operators,” said Pu Jiawei, head of the bureau’s policy and regulation division.

“City-wide warning information can be issued on different channels within five minutes, and information on new media and online can reach them in seconds.”

The rule also encourages the adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain to improve forecasting and warning systems, particularly during disasters and special events.

“As this year’s typhoon season approaches, we applied artificial intelligence technology to predict the path of typhoons and improved relevant forecasting models during the service,” said Shen Lifeng, deputy director from the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.

Shen said the latest technologies will help local meteorologists improve their accuracy.

In addition to modernizing public weather services and preventing disasters, the rule also promotes weather data sharing.

Shanghai began exploring the use of weather data earlier this year.

Compared to previous versions, the new rule more closely aligns with Shanghai’s characteristics, including its status as a coastal megacity and its numerous skyscrapers, according to Feng Lei, head of the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.