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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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The new graphic system will help in reading weather forecasts, ensuring that accurate weather information was communicated to the public.

Trivis Weather Graphics is capable of showing different weather symbols on a single chart and visualising model forecast data from different sources.

The system has captivating visual impact, improved quality graphic information, which will enable viewers to understand information.

It can give a three-dimensional view in virtual reality and in a simplistic form. The graphics will not be restricted to television only.

The graphics can be used to generate storyboards for public screens, newspapers, mobile phones and the Internet. Launching the system, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Dr Lucas Gakale, emphasised the importance of weather forecast in the aspects of engineering, aviation and infrastructure development.

Dr Gakale said all these uses required weather information customised for their specific needs. It is therefore important that those in the weather information sector should therefore continue to develop new multimedia weather information products that appeal to the viewers.

He emphasised the need for presentation of weather on national weather forecast for public consumption to be packaged in such a way that was interesting, easily understood and comprehensive.

He said the packaging was vital as it would help the public not only to take in and understand the message, but also to be attracted to the product and had sufficient interest and motivation to hear, see and even feel its visual images.

While the publics interest might be to know whether or not rain would come, the sun would shine, or whether it would be warm or cold and within what time frame would the conditions occur, he said the manner in which the information was packaged and transmitted was important.

Dr Gakale observed that weather forecasts could be monotonous, especially in countries such as Botswana where diurnal differences in the weather could be small for extended periods.

He emphasised that as Meteorological Services collected and archived weather data, the department must also ensure that it was processed and transformed into relevant information for it to become useful to the users.

It is therefore essential that the information they carry is communicated and disseminated timeously in simple and user-friendly forms for the benefit of the general public, he said.

Mr Radithupa Radithupa, the weather broadcast officer, said earlier on during a news briefing that the new system would help address the negative criticism towards the quality of weather forecast the department provided.

He said Trivis Weather Graphic was currently used in European countries such as Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. He said the graphic system was highly predictive and could provide early warnings on forecast of natural disasters.

The system can provide 72 hours outlook forecast, he said. It is able to cover even small villages across the country and cities in the SADC region.

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