Monday, 1 April 2019 – Brunei Darussalam via the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD), Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications,
as a member of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and as the national meteorological authority, celebrates the World Meteorological Day today.

World Meteorological Day takes place every year on 23 March to celebrate the anniversary of the convention establishing World Meteorological Organization on 23 March 1950. This day also commemorates the essential contribution of all the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
around the world to the safety and wellbeing of society.

Each year, the celebration focuses on a theme of topical interest chosen especially by the WMO. "The Sun, the Earth and the Weather" is the theme of this year's World Meteorological Day. It highlights the role of the Sun in delivering the energy that powers all life on Earth, and drives the weather, climate, ocean currents and the hydrological cycle.

To celebrate this year's World Meteorological Day, the BDMD held a ceremony at the Garden's Veranda Hall, Rimba Garden Central. The guest of honour was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications. Also present were Yang Berhormat Members of Legislative Council and Yang Mulia Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud and Yang Mulia Awang Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim, Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Mohd Zain bin Pengiran Haji Abd Razak, directors, head of departments, deputy head of departments, and senior officers from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, as well as special invited guests which include representatives from weather and climate services end-users.

The ceremony commenced with a welcoming speech by Yang Mulia Awang Muhamad Husaini Bin Aji, Acting Director of Meteorology, as chairperson of the event. In commemorating the occasion, the Minister of Transport and Infocommunications officiated the launching of the "Brunei Darussalam Flash Flood Guidance System (BFFGS)". The Flash Flood Guidance System is a tool that provides BDMD's operational forecasters with real-time informational guidance products pertaining to the threat of small-scale flash flooding. It also provides the necessary products to support the development of warnings for flash floods from rainfall events through the use of remote sensed precipitation and hydrological models.

In his speech the guest of honour touched on the importance of weather services provided by the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department in meeting the needs of the nation and the departmentÂ’s ever relevant role and contribution towards our Smart Nation aspiration and in achieving the country's Vision 2035.

The guest of honour and invited guests later toured the World Meteorological Day 2019 exhibition that showcased educational information related to the new Brunei Darussalam Flash Flood Guidance System. Other product services such as the BDMD's Colour-Coded Weather Warning and Weather Hazard Index System as tools to better prepare for extreme weather events, were also part of the exhibition. Other government agencies from National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), National Road Safety Council (MKKJR), Public Works Department (JKR), Department of Environment, Park and Recreation (JASTRe), Forestry Department, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry Brunei Darusssalam (MEMI), Survey Department, University of Technology Brunei (UTB) and a graduate from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) also participated in the exhibition. Private companies such as RAB Global Green Sdn Bhd, Rennovo Solutions Sdn Bhd and Rimba Garden Central were also part of the exhibition, showcasing weather-related products.