World Meteorological Day
A global day celebrating the role of meteorological and climate services in protecting lives and property, marking the founding of the World Meteorological Organization.
Date23 March
TopicEnvironment & Sustainability
Established1950
Ways to observe this day
- Check the daily weather forecast from an official reliable source
- Learn about severe weather warnings in your area and how to respond
- Visit a meteorological center if it holds an open day in your city
- Share a fact about how climate change is affecting weather patterns in your region
On March 23, 1950, the convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) entered into force, succeeding the International Meteorological Organization that had existed since 1873. Since 1961, this date has been marked annually as World Meteorological Day.
The day highlights the essential contribution national meteorological and hydrological services make to protecting community safety, through forecasting hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heatwaves, and monitoring long-term climate change. The WMO, a specialized UN agency with 193 member states, coordinates international cooperation in weather, climate, and water observation. Member states mark the day each year under a different theme, through scientific conferences, open days at meteorological centers, and awareness campaigns on preparing for extreme weather events amid climate change.
