The Mayor of Odesa, Gennady Trukhanov, held a meeting with the director of the Hydrometeorological Center of the Black and Azov Seas, Viktor Sitov, to discuss significant issues.

During the dialogue, both parties reviewed the details of an emergency event, the specifics of weather forecasting, and ways to enhance cooperation between meteorological services and local authorities.

Viktor Sitov noted that the Center operates 12 weather stations, four of which are marine. However, the existing equipment does not provide sufficient accuracy in forecasts; for instance, it can detect cloudiness but cannot accurately predict precipitation levels.

The director emphasized that the southern region, particularly coastal cities, requires more accurate data that could be provided by modern systems already installed in Lviv and the Kyiv region at government expense.

“Finnish equipment has a range of up to 300 km. It could cover the entire southern region, reaching as far as Vinnytsia. We have already reported this to central authorities. Although this equipment is costly, it is critically needed as it would allow precise determination of precipitation amounts, their localization, and possibly prevent tragedies,” he stressed.

Following the meeting, the Mayor of Odesa instructed his deputies to collaborate with the Hydrometeorological Center to prepare technical specifications and justification for the necessity of installing such equipment in Odesa.

Additionally, he plans to reach out to partner cities for support of the initiative aimed at improving the safety of residents.

“It is extremely important for us to have the weather forecast as complete and accurate as possible, as this is not just information for local authorities. Based on meteorological data, we determine our emergency response plans and future actions,” Gennady Trukhanov emphasized.