High-tech to enhance timely, precise weather forecasts

China is poised to enhance its meteorological capabilities during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period with a focus on integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to improve monitoring and early warning of severe weather, said Chen Zhenlin, director of the China Meteorological Administration.

"We are accelerating the development of a comprehensive meteorological disaster risk warning system under a broader safety and emergency framework," Chen told an interview with China Daily ahead of World Meteorological Day on Monday.

The focus is on deepening the application of AI to improve the precision of severe weather monitoring and extend warning lead times.

By the end of the period, China aims to fully establish a new generation of short-term warning systems, improving its ability to detect trouble, support decisionmaking, enhance preparations and prevent extreme and destructive weather events, Chen said.

"We will refine the emergency response mechanism led by early warnings and establish high-level call-and-response alerts and progressive meteorological services."

Last year, many regions across China experienced unusually frequent extreme weather events. Rapid shifts between drought and flooding, as well as sudden swings between cold and heat, became more common.

The main precipitation belt shifted noticeably northward, bringing increased rainfall and more frequent waves of extreme downpours to northern parts of the country.

The economic impact of such events was underscored by the fact that in 2025, natural disasters in China caused direct losses totaling 241.62 billion yuan ($35 billion). Floods and geological disasters caused the most severe losses, costing 166.57 billion yuan, accounting for 69 percent of the total, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

Multiple central policy meetings and key documents have since called for improving the capacity to respond to extreme weather events, strengthening meteorological monitoring and forecasting, and enhancing early warning systems.

"It is essential to continue strengthening meteorological monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems, and deepen research on climate change trends and patterns of extreme weather events to better safeguard public safety," Chen said.

Beyond disaster prevention, the administration will expand applications of meteorological disaster risk warnings to meet the needs of different sectors.

Chen outlined plans to create new digital and scenario-based meteorological service models. "We aim to develop meteorological products that meet the needs of sectors such as the low-altitude economy, energy, finance and tourism," he said, adding that meteorological services across the agricultural production chain will also be enhanced, while monitoring and disaster warning services will be provided for major global grain-producing regions.

China is also committed to building an open, collaborative and innovation-driven development model.

"We are deepening research into key scientific projects such as the mechanisms behind extreme meteorological disasters and advancing technologies in Earth system forecasting," Chen said, adding that the country has built the world's largest and most comprehensive meteorological observation system, featuring coordinated monitoring across land, sea, air and space.

"With 10 Fengyun weather satellites currently operating in orbit, China is the only country with meteorological satellites covering four near-Earth orbital types," he said, adding that AI-based forecasting models, including Fenglei, Fengqing, Fengshun and Fengyu, have reached internationally advanced levels.

"China's meteorological science and technology capability has made a quantum leap, from following others to keeping pace, and in some areas taking the lead."

China is also expanding its role in global meteorological cooperation and taking a more active part in international governance. Its AI-powered MAZU — Multi-hazard, Alert, Zero-gap and Universal — early warning system, aligned with the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative, is now used in more than 40 countries.

"We provide high-quality meteorological data services to 153 countries and regions worldwide, offering strong support for international scientific research as well as disaster prevention and mitigation efforts," Chen said.

China hopes to further promote MAZU, which is particularly supportive to developing countries, and contribute to international standard-setting for AI governance in meteorology.

"We are focusing on international demonstrations of meteorological technology innovation in areas such as disaster monitoring and warning, climate change assessment and weather modification techniques," he added.