How will AI transform weather forecasting in Africa?

LIFD members Dr Michael Baidu and Prof Doug Parker were invited speakers on a recent panel discussion "How will AI transform weather forecasting in Africa?" hosted at AI UK 2025, The UK’s national showcase of data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Hosted by The Alan Turing Institute, AI UK is an in-depth exploration of how data science and AI can be used to solve real-world challenges.

The panel members included: Rich Turner (Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Cambridge), Neil Hausmann (Senior programme officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Caroline Bain (Head of Verification, Impacts and Post Processing, Met Office), Doug Parker and Michael Baidu (University of Leeds).

The topics discussed included: Current forecasting in Africa, the first and second AI revolution in weather prediction, How AI is changing the landscape of forecasting in Africa, what is needed to exploit the opportunities for AI forecasting in Africa and How to build trust in AI forecasting systems.

During the session, Doug Parker and Michael Baidu highlighted the need to leverage AI models to enhance forecasting in Africa where physical models still struggle to simulate accurate storms. They also mentioned the University of Leeds projects with African Universities and Meteorological Centres, including the GCRF Africa SWIFT and FASTA projects.

Dr Michael Baidu said: ‘It was a great experience representing both the University of Leeds and my former institution, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Both organisations are becoming national centres of expertise in AI for weather forecasting.’

The session is available to watch back online.