One of the most pressing and rapidly worsening climate-related threats in South Asia is temperature extremes. Climate change is amplifying the frequency, intensity, and duration of temperature-related hazards, which include not only heatwaves but also cold spells and unseasonal low-temperature events. These extremes pose serious threats to public health, livelihoods, and infrastructure across the region. Rapid urbanization, widespread poverty, and a high dependency on climate-sensitive sectors – such as agriculture, water, health, and infrastructure – make the region exceptionally more sensitive to the growing impacts of climate change, particularly temperature extremes. These challenges highlight the urgent need to transition from conventional weather warnings to impact-based forecasting (IBF) that integrates hazard, exposure, and vulnerability information to provide actionable insights for decision-makers.

In response, the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES), in partnership with the UK Met Office through the Weather and Climate Information Services for Asia and the Pacific (WISER-AP) Programme, is implementing the South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF) IBF Working Group (WG) Project. This initiative aims to support South Asian countries in developing the scientific, institutional, and operational frameworks required to deliver IBF services, with initial focus on temperature-related hazards such as heatwaves and cold waves.

This regional workshop contributes to the project by facilitating the co-development of a regional Framework and Toolkit for IBF of Temperature-Related Hazards – a crucial output that will form the foundation for national demonstration activities and regional harmonization in 2026.