Extreme weather events from disastrous flash floods to intense heatwaves are no longer distant environmental warnings in South Africa. They are happening right now, hitting harder, occurring more frequently, and leaving vulnerable populations exposed. These severe weather shocks disrupt essential healthcare delivery, damage critical clinic infrastructure, and dramatically increase the risk of climate-sensitive disease outbreaks.

The WEATHER Project (Warning system for Extreme weather events, Awareness Technology for Healthcare, Equitable delivery, and Resilience) is a multi-country, multidisciplinary collaborative initiative. We are co-designing an artificial intelligence (AI) powered Early Warning System (EWS) engineered to protect lives, equip healthcare professionals, and strengthen public health infrastructure against oncoming climate related disasters.

 The project is mainly based in the province of KwaZulu-Natal as our primary hub while bringing together leading universities, public health services, policymakers, and local residents. Together, we co-create practical, science-backed solutions that elevate disaster preparedness, boost health system resilience, and support rapid recovery.