The Meteorological Service is moving ahead with a major upgrade aimed at transforming the department from a traditional service into a modern, secure, interconnected and technologically advanced operational centre.
The strategic plan focuses on strengthening operational capacity, improving infrastructure resilience and ensuring compliance with European and national regulations to meet the growing needs of society, aviation and civil protection.
The department’s long-term strategy includes 11 key priorities that directly affect public safety, the economy and citizens’ daily lives.
Funding concerns over critical investments
Behind the ambitious plans is a budget challenge over securing the necessary funding, with the Meteorological Service warning of serious risks if the required allocations are not approved.
The department stressed that its immediate needs involve two separate actions that should not be confused financially: the EUMETCast/EUMETSAT satellite reception infrastructure and cybersecurity measures.
Both investments are considered essential for improving operational capability, meeting European obligations and ensuring uninterrupted delivery of reliable weather services.
€460,000 satellite system investment
The first project involves the purchase and installation of a satellite reception system that will allow direct access to meteorological images from EUMETSAT.
The infrastructure will cost €460,000, while an annual operating licence of €120,000 will also be required.
The system will provide real-time, high-quality data crucial for forecasting extreme weather events.
It will also support artificial intelligence projects, including “AI in Agrometeorology” and “AI for Early Warning System”, while strengthening the Cyprus Institute’s experimental wildfire detection programme, which currently relies on delayed satellite images.
The department warned that failure to secure funding could undermine these initiatives and negatively affect the safety of citizens and infrastructure.
€265,000 cybersecurity investment
A separate amount of €265,000 is dedicated to strengthening the cybersecurity resilience of the department’s critical systems.
The investment is linked to compliance with the EU NIS2 Directive and specific PART-IS requirements for air navigation services and meteorological services.
The department said that, because it supports essential services such as civil protection, aviation and emergency warnings, protection against cyber threats is both a legal and operational necessity.
It warned that a successful cyberattack disrupting its systems could have widespread consequences, while non-compliance could lead to significant fines exceeding the cost of the investment itself.
The 11 strategic priorities
The Meteorological Service’s plan for 2026 and beyond includes:
- Bringing forecasting, observation and administrative services together in one facility in Athalassa for faster coordination during extreme weather events.
- Protecting observation and forecasting systems from cyber threats through backup mechanisms ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 operation.
- Replacing meteorological observation systems at Larnaca and Paphos airports with modern AWOS systems.
- Developing an AI-based warning system using radar and satellite data to focus on the impacts of weather events rather than general forecasts.
- Providing the Fire Service, Civil Defence and aviation authorities with high-resolution satellite data for faster response.
- Cooperating with European organisations to use advanced numerical models for improved forecasting and fire weather analysis.
- Creating specialised weather products for farmers to improve water management and protect agricultural production.
- Recruiting permanent and properly trained staff to support demanding 24-hour operations.
- Training employees in AI, cybersecurity, advanced technologies and effective public communication.
- Installing new sensors across Cyprus and reducing technical inspection cycles from four to three months.
- Completing a system that will provide citizens, researchers and professionals with free and organised access to national weather data.
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