China is poised to enhance its meteorological capabilities during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, with a focus on integrating advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to improve monitoring and early warning of severe weather, said Chen Zhenlin, director of the China Meteorological Administration.

"We are accelerating the development of a comprehensive meteorological disaster risk warning system under a broader safety and emergency framework," Chen said in an interview with China Daily ahead of World Meteorological Day, which falls on Monday.

The focus is on deepening the application of AI to improve the precision of severe weather monitoring and extend warning lead times.

By 2030, China aims to establish a new generation of short-term warning systems, improve its ability to detect trouble, support decision-making, and enhance preparations for extreme weather events, Chen said.

"We will refine the emergency response mechanism led by early warnings and establish high-level call-and-response alerts and progressive meteorological services," he added.

Last year, many regions across China experienced frequent extreme weather events. Rapid shifts between drought and flooding, as well as sudden swings between cold and heat spells, became common. The main precipitation belt shifted northward, bringing increased rainfall.

In 2025, natural disasters in China caused direct losses totaling 241.62 billion yuan ($35.1 billion), according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. Floods and geological disasters caused the most severe losses, costing 166.57 billion yuan, it said.

Multiple central policy meetings and key documents have since called for improving capacity to respond to extreme weather events.

"It is essential to continue strengthening meteorological monitoring, forecasting and risk warning systems, and deepen research on climate change trends and patterns of extreme weather events to better safeguard public safety," Chen said.

He outlined plans to create new digital and scenario-based meteorological service models. "We aim to develop meteorological products that meet the needs of sectors such as the low-altitude economy, energy, finance and tourism," Chen said, adding that meteorological services across the agricultural production chain will also be enhanced.

"We are deepening research into key scientific projects, such as the mechanisms behind extreme meteorological disasters, and advancing technologies in Earth system forecasting," Chen said, adding that the country has built the world's largest and most comprehensive meteorological observation system.

"With 10 Fengyun weather satellites operating in orbit, China is the only country with meteorological satellites covering four near-Earth orbital types," he said, noting that AI-based forecasting models have reached internationally advanced levels.

China is expanding its role in glo­bal meteorological cooperation and playing a more active part in international governance. Its AI-powered MAZU — Multi-hazard, Alert, Zero-gap and Universal — early warning system, aligned with the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative, is now used in over 40 countries and regions.

China hopes to further promote MAZU, which particularly supports developing countries, and contribute to international standard-setting for AI governance in meteorology, Chen added.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn