At WMO, we say no hazard respects borders. But it's just as true that no warning system is complete without the full picture.
Every day, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) work on the front lines of risk. They gather and interpret the data that makes early warnings possible-from high-altitude winds to deep floodwaters. They are the backbone of global forecasting and the bridge between science and safety.
Volcanoes might not be the first thing you associate with WMO's core pillars-weather, water, and climate-but their impacts cut straight through all three.
Take Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, 1991.
The eruption in June triggered a deadly domino effect. Monsoon rains met volcanic ash, unleashing more than 200 lahars-volcanic mudflows-that roared through valleys, burying homes and infrastructure across three provinces. Damage reached US$ 700 million. The flows didn't stop for a year. Some traveled 80 kilometers. Tens of thousands displaced. And that was just the local impact.
Globally, Pinatubo threw 20 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The resulting aerosol cloud circled the planet in weeks, dimming sunlight and lowering global temperatures by about 0.5°C for nearly two years. Asia's monsoons shifted. Weather patterns veered off course.
One eruption. Worldwide consequences.
We can't afford to treat volcanoes as outliers.
Why volcanic risk must be part of early warnings
- Volcanoes are multi-hazard events.
Lava's just the start. Ashfall, lahars, pyroclastic flows, volcanic gases-each can collide with meteorological and hydrological systems to magnify harm. Rain turns ash to mudflows. Sulfur clouds shift climates. Pinatubo proved this decades ago. Climate volatility makes it more urgent today.
- Volcanology depends on atmospheric science.
Volcanic ash models rely on weather data: wind speed, humidity, pressure. The same satellites, radar, and LIDAR used for weather forecasting track volcanic plumes. Aviation, air quality, and public safety all depend on accurate integration.
- The current system has gaps.
Unlike meteorological hazards, volcanic warnings lack global consistency. Data sharing is patchy. Standards vary. WMO can help fix that-by strengthening coordination, scaling up Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (VAACs), and supporting NMHSs in high-risk, low-resource countries.
- The demand is real and growing.
Over 800 million people live within 100 kilometers of an active volcano. Countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Ecuador face layered threats: eruptions combined with cyclones or floods. Their systems are often siloed. But WMO Members are requesting support for more integrated, multi-hazard approaches.
- WMO can lead by connecting, not duplicating.
WMO doesn't replace volcanologists. It connects disciplines. It adds value by linking geophysical risk to climate services, seasonal forecasts, and public resilience. We can create platforms that help warnings move faster and land more effectively.
This is the work ahead.
As part of Early Warnings for All, WMO is ensuring volcanic hazards are included-not as add-ons, but as essential components of risk frameworks. Next week's Volcano Early Warnings for All workshop in Geneva [consider adding date for clarity] is a step forward. We're bringing together experts, policymakers, and NMHSs leaders to strengthen collaboration and share hard-earned lessons.
Countries like Guatemala and Ecuador are already showing what's possible. Their NMHSs are not just watching for signs-they're working across disciplines, co-leading national plans, and helping communities get warnings they can trust.
WMO's job is to amplify that
To modernize the data infrastructure they depend on.
To scale investment in observation systems.
To make sure no hazard is left out, whether it comes from the sky or the earth.
Because early warnings save lives.
And all hazards mean all.
