The 25th ESCAP/WMO* Typhoon Committee Attachment Training course was held at JMA Headquarters from 13 to 22 January 2026.

In its role as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC), the Tokyo – Typhoon Center has organized ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee Attachment Training annually since 2001 with the support of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Programme and the Typhoon Committee. The main aim of the training is to advance the tropical cyclone (TC) analysis and forecasting capacity of Typhoon Committee Members. The course is set under the Category 2 Unit of Tropical Cyclone Forecast Competency as specified by the Typhoon Committee Region in the Typhoon Committee Operational Manual (TOM).

The course was held in person with trainees from six Typhoon Committee Members (Hong Kong, China ; Malaysia; the Philippines; the Republic of Korea; Thailand and Viet Nam), and one from the Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) (Sri Lanka) , as well as a number of online attendees .

On the first day, the attendees paid courtesy visits to Director-General of JMA, NOMURA Ryoichi and Director-General of the Atmosphere and Ocean Department, TAHARA Yoshihiko .

The course targeted further understanding of typhoon fundamentals and cutting-edge technologies (such as meteorological satellites and numerical weather prediction systems), and the enhancement of tropical cyclone (TC) forecasting skills. Attendees were also supported in practical application of the expertise gained through the training to reduce TC-related damage in their own areas of the Asia-Pacific region.

The training curriculum was enriched using feedback from past trainees, with greater time allocation for hands-on training to promote interactive learning of satellite analysis techniques and Dvorak analysis, and the addition of tropical cyclone forecasting exercises and a presentation on AI-based weather models. From the Typhoon Committee’s Working Groups, Dr. MIYAMOTO Mamoru (Chair of the Working Group on Hydrology (WGH)) from the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHARM) gave a presentation on flood forecasting, and Dr. Gerald Potutan (an expert from the Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (WGDRR)) from the Asian Disaster Reduction Center spoke about disaster risk reduction. RSMC New Delhi also gave a presentation titled “An Introduction to the South Asian Monsoon and TCs over the Indian Ocean.” To enhance understanding of coastal hazards associated with tropical cyclones, a JMA expert also gave a presentation on storm surges and high waves. This content also contributed to the activities of the WMO Regional Association II (RA II) Expert Team on Marine Services (ET-MS) under the Working Group on Weather, Climate, Water and Related Environmental Services and Applications (WG Services).

The interaction provided valuable opportunities for discussions on experience and expertise in TC forecasting and warning operations, and for consideration of work to further enhance public awareness of related hazards.

RSMC Tokyo remains committed to its vital roles for capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region to mitigate the impacts of hazardous tropical cyclones.

^* United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization