High Impact Thunderstorm Nowcast
Seeing storms coming — everywhere, especially without radar.
The High Impact Thunderstorm Nowcast predicts where severe thunderstorms will develop over the next hour, using satellite images from EUMETSAT combined with artificial intelligence (AI). Because it relies on satellite data rather than ground-based weather radar, it works even in regions where radar is sparse or unavailable, as is the case across much of Africa. The tool turns raw satellite imagery into clear rainfall maps and projects them 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes ahead, helping forecasters and communities prepare before the heaviest rain arrives. In doing so it supports climate adaptation by strengthening early warning for one of the region’s most disruptive weather hazards.
Earlier warning of severe storms.
Level 3 – Advanced
National meteorological and hydrological services and their forecasters
Web platform (forecasts delivered online to national forecasters)
Why use this tool?
- Works without local weather radar, using satellite data that is freely archived and available everywhere.
- Combines satellite observations with AI to capture how storms really form, grow and move — going beyond simple extrapolation.
- Turns satellite images into clear rainfall maps and projects them up to 60 minutes ahead.
- Rigorously tested on many real storm cases, with results over Africa even stronger than over Europe.
Get started
The nowcast service is coming soon. A direct link will be added here once it is publicly available. In the meantime, see SAFE4ALL – Models, Tools and Data.
Where has it worked already?
The tool is being configured for the SAFE4ALL case-study countries — Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe — where its accuracy is tested against many real storm cases rather than a few selected examples. Independent verification shows the model reliably detects the large majority of real storms while keeping false alarms low, with results over Africa exceeding those over Europe.
Developed by
This tool was developed by MicroStep-MIS, within the SAFE4ALL project (Horizon Europe). The material was last updated in June 2026.
For any questions, feel free to contact support@microstep-mis.com.
