The 36th meeting of the Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology of the CIS countries was held in Tashkent on September 25-26. The Council, which has been in operation since 1992, is a key organization for cooperation and data exchange among national hydrometeorological services. The Secretariat and chairmanship of the Council regularly rotate between countries. At the conference in Tashkent, the chairmanship of the Council passed from Tajikhydromet to Uzhydromet. 

The 36th meeting of the Interstate Council reviewed the activities of national hydrometeorological services (NMHSs), their interaction within the Commonwealth, and with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). A number of important issues were discussed, including: implementation of the Agreement on the CIS Interstate Hydrometeorological Network; implementation of the Strategy for the Development of Hydrometeorological Activities of CIS Member States and the Implementation Plan; monitoring of the Interstate Hydrometeorological Network in 2023–2024; regulation of atmospheric air protection standards among states; and other topics.

On the implementation of the Development Strategy 

The regional hydrometeorological security system is developing through the implementation of integrated information systems and mobile applications for operational access to data.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia use modern numerical models for short-term forecasting of hazardous events, while Russia is developing highly detailed models. All countries are implementing emergency early warning systems. In large cities, the population is informed about weather and hydrological risks. Seasonal and subseasonal forecasts are being improved using satellite data and probabilistic modeling. Methods for early warning of wildfires, floods, and extreme hydrological processes are being developed, and transboundary information exchange facilitates joint river basin management.

From 2021 to 2025, CIS countries continued comprehensive research on climate change and its impact on the natural environment and economy. All countries actively participated in the work of the North Eurasian Climate Center and the development of the Consolidated Annual Report of the Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology of the CIS countries. Particular attention was paid to the digitization of archives, the creation of electronic databases, and guaranteed access to climate information. A network of national climate centers was developed, providing monitoring, forecasting, and data exchange for adaptation to climate change.

During the same period, the CIS countries actively developed hydrometeorological systems and environmental monitoring.

Armenia has installed 50 automatic weather stations and modernized hydrometric posts. Belarus and Kazakhstan have modernized hydrometric posts, weather stations, and laboratories, expanding automation and digital services. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have increased the number of automatic stations, implemented data processing systems, and are monitoring glaciers and water bodies. Russia is modernizing its integrated system for collecting, processing, and providing hydrometeorological information to the state and the public, and is conducting environmental monitoring. Uzbekistan has automated 313 stations and expanded its upper-air and radar networks.

All countries are developing automated observation methods, information systems, and integration with WMO global networks, improving the accuracy of forecasts and the effectiveness of early warning for emergencies.

Countries continue to harmonize norms and standards for data collection and processing to improve the quality of forecasts and warnings. Educational standards for specialists in meteorology, hydrology, and aviation meteorological services are being developed in collaboration with the WMO. Meteorological support for international air navigation is being developed in accordance with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards. Basic technologies for data processing and dissemination, as well as environmental and pollution forecasting, are being developed. In Central Asian countries, the quality of forecasts has improved thanks to international experience and the integration of meteorological information.

From country reports for 2024–2025

Azerbaijan:

Forty automatic hydrological stations have been installed to monitor water levels, flow rates, temperature, precipitation, snow cover, and water quality. Fifty-eight automatic weather stations have been installed to monitor temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, precipitation, soil, cloud cover, and visibility. Three radars are used to monitor the atmosphere and forecast hazardous phenomena (downpours, hail, and lightning). As part of the early warning system’s development, two radiosonde systems have been installed for upper-air observations up to 30 km in altitude and a 200 km radius. Automation and development of the Early Warning System will continue until 2030. Research on the Tufandag Glacier in August 2024 revealed accelerated melting, a reduction in area, an increase in the number and size of crevasses, and an upward retreat of the glacier tongue.

Tajikistan:

The Finnish Hydrometeorological Agency is conducting joint research with the Finnish Meteorological Institute to study air pollution in major cities. Observations are conducted at 16 automated stations and a mobile laboratory. Up to 13 air pollution parameters, plus meteorological indicators, are recorded. New imported pollutant analysis equipment was installed in 2024. Drones are planned for high-altitude air monitoring. Equipment for heavy metal and water composition analysis has been acquired. Laboratory research continues to develop.

In total, Tajikistan has 56 permanent weather stations plus 310 mini-automated stations. Six mobile automatic stations have been purchased for monitoring around Dushanbe. Glacier monitoring is underway. A new avalanche station has been opened at an altitude of 2,500 meters.

A new six-story building was constructed for the Hydrometeorology Agency in Dushanbe. It was opened on September 17, 2025. Two 11-story residential buildings, complete with a kindergarten, sports ground, and other social infrastructure, were built nearby for the agency’s employees. The President of Tajikistan attended the opening of the complex.  

Turkmenistan:

A network of over 100 observation points encompasses meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and aviation stations, as well as regional hydrometeorological centers. Hydromet actively participates in the global and regional exchange of WMO data. Forecasts of varying lead times—from short- to long-term—are prepared, including hydrological, marine, and agrometeorological forecasts. Storm warnings are issued when hazardous events threaten. By decree of the President of Turkmenistan, a new administrative and technical building for Turkmenhydromet was constructed, housing an Early Warning Center for Hazardous Events, equipped with modern radars, stations, laboratories, and a supercomputer. A modern Forecasting Center with the COSMO system has been deployed, and the transition to the ICON model is underway. At the same time, technologies and systems for collecting, exchanging, and processing hydrometeorological data are being modernized.

Kyrgyzstan:

Here are the data on the accuracy of storm warnings and avalanche warnings. In 2023-2024, there were 37 storm warnings, with a 98 percent accuracy rate. In 2024-2025, there were 16 storm warnings, with a 97 percent accuracy rate.

The accuracy rate of one-day weather forecasts is 96 percent, 95 percent for 2-3 days, 93 percent for 4-5 days, and 90 percent for 6-7 days. The accuracy rate of storm warnings for sudden weather changes from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025, is 100 percent.

Kyrgyzhydromet monitors snow cover, glaciers, and updates the inventory of Kyrgyzstan’s glaciers. The hydrological monitoring network and automated observation network are expanding. An automated information system, Agroportal, has been developed and provides information to organizations and the public.

Armenia:

During the presentation, it was announced that a side event on the importance of climate data and early warning of hazardous climate events for biodiversity conservation is being prepared for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Yerevan in October 2026. The objectives are to demonstrate the role of hydrometeorology in biodiversity conservation; to demonstrate how early warning systems contribute to ecosystem protection; and to promote intersectoral cooperation between stakeholders in the fields of environment, climate, and biodiversity.

The total number of employees at the Hydromet of Armenia is 548. Armenhydromet participates in several international projects: “Strengthening the Management Capacity of Armenia’s Reservoirs to Resilience to Climate Risks,” “Development of a Water Basin Management Plan for 2025–2030 for the Ararat Region,” the European Union’s Green Recovery Program, as well as the projects “Forest Restoration and Climate Change in Armenia,” “Forest Resilience in Armenia: Strengthening Adaptation and Green Growth in Rural Areas through Climate Change Mitigation,” and “Strengthening Resilience to Natural Disasters and Climate Change.”

Kazakhstan:

Kazhydromet employs 3,045 people, 2,780 of whom work in 15 regional branches. Meteorological monitoring is conducted by 347 meteorological stations, including 121 automatic weather stations (AWS). AWSs collect high-frequency data from various sensors, automatically process, archive, and transmit meteorological data via communication channels.

Nine upper-air stations operate in Kazakhstan. There are 37 actinometric stations, 27 of which are automatic. They measure various types of solar radiation: direct, total, reflected, diffuse, as well as the radiation balance, which is important for climate research and practical applications in agriculture, ecology, and energy. Nine Doppler weather radars are used for radar observations of atmospheric phenomena with a coverage radius of up to 250-300 km.

Information about research in Antarctica and Antarctica sparked interest. Drilling “ancient” ice in a superdeep borehole at the Vostok Station in Antarctica yielded ice samples and ancient mineral inclusions dating back hundreds and billions of years. This scientific project is particularly important for studying ancient climatic and geological processes on Earth.

Belarus:

Belarus operates a network of 67 ground-based weather stations. This network is constantly being modernized and expanded. New automatic stations are planned for the near future to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting and monitoring across the country’s regions and districts. Some of this equipment is manufactured in Belarus.

Hydrological stations monitor water levels, temperatures, runoff, ice conditions, and water quality, as well as hydrological phenomena. There are 114 of them. Of these, 104 are located on rivers and ten are on lakes and reservoirs. The data allows for forecasts and warnings about adverse hydrological and weather conditions.

Belarushydromet conducts radiation monitoring at 120 stationary observation points, including 41 that measure gamma radiation dose rates in the atmosphere daily. At 25 stations, atmospheric fallout is also monitored, and 10 stations monitor the content of radioactive aerosols in the ground-level air.

Both natural background radiation throughout the country and levels of radioactive contamination in areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident are monitored.

Uzbekistan:

Uzhydromet serves as a regional meteorological center within the WMO World Weather Watch system. Since 1967, Tashkent has been one of 29 regional meteorological centers. It collects meteorological information, prepares and disseminates weather maps and forecasts in Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Asian part of Russia. 

As of early 2025, more than two dozen automated stations equipped with high-precision gas analyzers recognized as compliant with international standards were operating in Uzbekistan. Uzhydromet operates over 400 environmental monitoring stations. Surface water, soil, and precipitation samples are regularly collected and analyzed to assess the extent of environmental pollution. 

The development of Uzbekistan’s hydrological network is envisaged by the comprehensive water resources development program adopted in 2025 and approved by the President. The program emphasizes digitalization of water management using Uzbekcosmos satellite data and the creation of a unified information platform. Publicly accessible geoportals of Uzhydromet: https://hydromet.uz/ , https://data.meteo.uz/ , https://monitoring.meteo.uz/ , https://t.me/uzgydromet , https://www.facebook.com/uzhydromet, https://www.instagram.com/hydromet.uz/?hl=ru

Guests visited a weather station in the Tashkent region

Arrived.

New equipment for measuring depths in rivers.

News: A radar with a diameter of one hundred and fifty kilometers will be installed in Buk in October.

See for yourself.

Everything is interesting.

Mobile laboratory.

The presentation on environmental quality monitoring in the Tashkent region was the final one.

At the 36th meeting of the Interstate Council on Hydrometeorology of the CIS countries, a number of important agreements were reached, including on future joint projects within the framework of the World Meteorological Organization.

Natalia SHULEPINA

photo by the author