The Mayor of Odesa, Hennadiy Trukhanov, held a meeting with Viktor Syto, the director of the Black and Azov Seas Hydrometeorological Center.

During the dialogue, the parties discussed crucial aspects of emergency situations, forecasting methods, and ways to enhance collaboration between meteorological services and local authorities.

According to Viktor Syto, the Center currently operates 12 weather stations, four of which are marine. However, the existing equipment does not provide sufficient detail: for instance, the stations can detect cloud cover but cannot accurately predict precipitation levels.

The director of the hydrometeorological center noted that the southern region, especially coastal cities, requires more precise data that could be provided by modern locators, such as those already established in Lviv and Kyiv with state funding.

“Finnish equipment has a range of up to 300 km. It could cover the entire southern region — even reaching Vinnytsia. We have already reported this to the central authorities. Such equipment is costly but extremely necessary. It would enable precise determination of precipitation amounts, their localization, and possibly even prevent tragedies,” emphasized the director of the Hydrometeorological Center.

As a result of the meeting, the Mayor of Odesa tasked relevant deputies to collaborate with the Hydrometeorological Center's management to prepare a technical specification and justification for the installation of such a locator in Odesa.

Additionally, the Mayor plans to reach out to sister cities requesting support for the initiative aimed at enhancing the safety of our city's residents.

“It is crucial for us that weather forecasts are as comprehensive and accurate as possible because for local authorities, this is not just information; it forms the basis for our operational response plans and further actions,” stressed Hennadiy Trukhanov.