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Sports & Events Industry

Challenges

Weather-sensitive events can range from entertainment to sports and corporate events. As a result, weather-related safety processes are critical for most event planners and organisers. More sophisticated solutions are available to users through improvements in meteorological technologies. Additionally, increased quality weather forecasts can influence other aspects of sporting and outdoor events planning processes.

  • Events tend to be at a large scale with thousands of people attending and are generally big business
  • There are strict requirements to ensure public safety and infrastructure protection
  • Expected increases in severe and high-impact events under climate change conditions


Benefits

Working directly with organisers enables tailor-made forecast solutions for every event. The weather solutions range from current weather conditions during the event to more extended forecasts assisting during the planning phase. In addition, this service can assist to:

  • Mitigate the risks for specific events and ensure the maximum lead time of inclement weather.
  • Weather conditions include extreme temperatures, wind speed and direction, rain, lightning, severe storms, and flash flooding.
  • The service will translate what the weather on the day will be to what impact the weather will have.

Products Available

Weather Forecast

Site-specific extended weather outlook, as well as high-resolution 3-day forecasts for short-term planning

Storm Forecasts and alerts

Warning and alerts of approaching storms (buffer zone adaptable)

Lightning

Lightning warnings and alerts (buffer zone and proximity adaptable)

Specialised Impact Forecasts

Specific event impact-based forecasts issued by operational forecasts (24/7)

Seasonal Forecasts

Temperature and rainfall outlook for the next 3-months


 

1

 

Climate Change Reference Atlas (CCRA)

Provide a Hyperlink: https://www.weathersa.co.za/home/climatechangeatlas

https://www.weathersa.co.za/home/extremeclimateindices

 

Diagram, map

Description automatically generated

Additional Information

Data Type

NC, Shapefiles, Jpeg

File Format

Shapefiles, Jpeg

Frequency

5 years cycle

Thematic Application Area/ Target Market

·         All Sectors

Coverage

National, Provincial and municipality

Dissemination Channels

Product reports are available on the website. Raw data for further value add are available upon request and commercial terms

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The Climate Change Reference Atlas provides a general impression of climate change scenarios compared to the present climate, at a high resolution of ~4 km. These scenarios are for various periods and emission scenarios and can assist with initial long-term planning for all climate-sensitive sectors. The information can serve as a preparatory phase for more in-depth future scenario research, relevant to a specific sector.

 

2

 

Climate Data (CD)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Text

File Format

MS Excel, MSWord, Pdf

File Size

Request dependant

Frequency

Upon request

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         All Sectors

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Email

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Long-term analysis, understanding of weather and climate of the area, verification of weather conditions in the area.

 

3

 

Specialized Lightning Report (SLR)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Text or Excel

Data Formant

Report PDF or MSWord

File Size

Small /Medium

Frequency

Upon request

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         All sectors

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         E-mail

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

To accurately determine the position and strength of a ground strike. Used to validate insurance claims.

 

4

 

Lightning Fault Analysis Report (LFAR)

 

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

 

File Format

 

File Size

Small

Frequency

 

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Lightning consultant firms

·         Insurance

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Digital Platform

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The report is beneficial for users interested in analyzing the lightning strokes potentially responsible for causing damage. The report maps provide properties of all the lightning strokes that has a 99% confidence ellipse intersecting the area of interest.

 

5

 

Lightning Ground Flash Density (LGFD)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

ASCII

File Format

 

File Size

Small

Frequency

Annually

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Insurance

·         Lightning consultant firms

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Digital Platform

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Provides the number of lightning flashes per square kilometre on average per year. The product is mainly used to determine lightning prone areas. Insurance companies use the products for risk assessments when setting premiums. It is also used by companies selling lightning protection systems and government department for planning purposes when rolling out lightning rod systems in lightning prone areas.

 

6

Product ID

WB42

Product Name

WB42 – Climate Statistics

Product Description

Summary of the 30-year climate of a specific location in tabular format

 

WB42 – Climate Statistics

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

File Format

 

Data Type

ASCII

File Size

Small

Frequency

 

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Construction

·         Academia

·         Consulting firms

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Email

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Long-term climate analysis provides an understanding of the climatology of a specific area.

 

7

 

GIS products

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

 

File Format

 

File Size

JPEG/GIS shapefiles

Frequency

Small to medium

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

Upon request

Coverage

·         All sectors

Dissemination Channels

South Africa

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

·         Email

 

 

 

8

 

Human Discomfort Index (HDI)

 

Additional Information

Data Type

 

File Format

Word, JPEG, PDF, Video

File Size

 

Frequency

On request. This product support the Discomfort Index product issued on SAWS website.

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Health Sector

·         Tourism Sector

·         Local and national government departments

Coverage

South Africa

 

Dissemination Channels

·         SAWS website

·         Web portal

·         Mobile Internet based applications

·         Mobile apps and SMS

·         News bulletin/letters

·         Scientific publications

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The product provides different levels of discomfort and physiological stress that results when the different DI values are reached. For example, at an index value lower than 21°C no discomfort feeling is experienced by the population, but at an index value equals to or greater than 24°C, over 50% of the population will feel thermal discomfort. As DI values increases, the level of thermal discomfort increases. Thom’s medical emergency classification is reached when the DI value exceeded 32°C.