RISKMED targeted to create an Early Warning System (EWS) in case of severe or extreme weather events in the central and eastern Mediterranean and specifically in southern Italy, northwestern Greece, Malta and Cyprus. Severe or extreme weather events were considered to occur when the values of some meteorological parameters (temperature, wind, precipitation) exceed fixed thresholds, and/or a severe weather phenomenon (thunderstorm, snowfall) occurs. Selected meteorological models were operated daily, based on a nesting strategy using two or three domains, to provide detailed forecasts over areas or interest. The forecast results were further exploited for the evaluation and prediction of human discomfort and Fire Weather Indices. Sea wave models were also operating daily over the central and eastern Mediterranean Sea. In cases where a severe or extreme weather event was forecast within the next 48 or 72 h for selected target areas (sub-regions defined by their morphological and population characteristics), the local authorities and the public were informed via a RISK MAP.  On the RISK MAP web page, additional information was provided about the real-time values of some meteorological parameters, the latest satellite picture and the time and space distribution of lightning during the previous 24 hours.

The RISKMED project was financed by the EU and the Ministries of National Economy of Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus, in the frame of INTERREG IIIB/ARCHIMED programme.