Yesterday the FASTA team were honoured to receive the Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) Award for Innovation in the Development of Computational Models, Tools or Visualisation.
The award recognises outstanding contributions to advancing meteorology through computational tools and data-driven innovation – highlighting the growing importance of accessible, real-time weather information in a changing climate.
Accepting the award, the FASTA team described the recognition as both an honour and a reflection of a shared mission:
FASTA began with a simple but urgent question: how can we get life‑saving weather information to people who need it most, when they need it most? Across much of Africa, severe storms develop quickly, observations are limited, and access to timely warnings can make the difference between safety and disaster.
Transforming weather information to save lives and livelihoods
FASTA delivers near real-time storm information across Africa, using satellite data, artificial intelligence, and nowcasting techniques to provide short-term forecasts of severe weather.
Unlike traditional forecasts, nowcasting focuses on the next few hours, offering highly accurate and frequently updated warnings for rapidly developing storms – critical in tropical regions where weather can change quickly.
Through its free mobile app and API, FASTA provides instant access to current and approaching storm activity, helping individuals, emergency responders, governments and businesses make informed decisions.
The impact is wide-ranging. From fishermen navigating dangerous waters, to farmers planning around rainfall, to humanitarian organisations managing risk during extreme weather, FASTA is helping to protect both lives and livelihoods across multiple sectors.
Research, innovation and collaboration at the heart of FASTA
FASTA is rooted in cutting-edge atmospheric science and represents the translation of research into real-world impact. At its core, FASTA combines:
- Advanced satellite observations
- Artificial intelligence and data science
- Operational forecasting expertise
- Co-designed user insights
This integration demonstrates how research and innovation can deliver practical, life-saving tools when driven by real-world needs.
The project is also a powerful example of international collaboration. FASTA has been co-developed with African meteorologists, national weather services, humanitarian organisations, and end users, ensuring the outputs are trusted, relevant, and usable in local contexts.
A vision for the future of weather services in Africa
FASTA is already supporting thousands of users and continues to expand across the continent. Its long-term vision is to improve near real-time storm information across Africa, closing critical gaps in forecasting and early warning systems.
The urgency of this work is clear. Across Africa, high-impact weather events can have devastating consequences, and improving forecasting capability is essential to reducing risk and strengthening resilience.
Celebrating a shared achievement
The RMetS award recognises not just a technological innovation, but a collective effort to close the gap between science and society.
We are especially proud that FASTA is free, accessible, and already supporting thousands of users, including vulnerable communities – but there is still much more to learn as we work to meet the needs of many more people. We want to recognise the dedication of the wider FASTA team and our partners across Africa. This award belongs to all of you.
Acknowledgements
The FASTA team is a partnership between the National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the University of Leeds, working with African meteorologists and National Meteorological Services – Ghana Meteorological Agency, Zambia Meteorological Department, Mozambique National Meteorology Institute, and Kenya Meteorological Department. The team has built on international research carried out by the Global Challenges Research Fund funded African SWIFT programme.
Expertise in meteorology and data science from the University of Leeds’ School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, the School of Mathematics, and the Centre for Environmental Modelling and Computation have been combined with NCAS’s strengths in computational systems, innovation and remote sensing.