KMA Expands SWFP-SAO Coverage

12 August 2026

The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) expanded the coverage of forecast data from the Korean Integrated Model (KIM), its in-house developed numerical weather prediction model, to the Southeastern Asia-Oceania (SAO) region on 24 July 2026.

Global Solidarity for Severe Weather Forecasting

The expansion of this service was undertaken in line with the policy direction of WMO Severe Weather Forecasting Programme (SWFP). Building on its achievement as the ninth country in the world to develop its own global numerical weather prediction model in 2020, KMA ushered in a new era of 8-km horizontal-resolution global numerical weather prediction in 2025. KMA is sharing these innovative achievements with the international community while actively supporting developing countries with limited access to weather information.

The newly provided data cover 117 cities across five island countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. A total of 33 types of weather charts, including wind and temperature information at various atmospheric levels, are provided in real time. These data are expected to play a key role in helping local forecasters monitor severe weather and issue timely early warnings.

“This expansion of the service is very significant as it enables us to share the outstanding achievements of the Korean Integrated Model, developed with our own technology, with the international community and to strengthen the disaster-response capacity of developing countries facing difficulties due to limited access to weather information. KMA will continue to strengthen cooperation with WMO and its Members and play a responsible role in protecting lives and property from weather-related disasters.” 
Dr. Miseon Lee, Administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration 

Data Sharing to Advance Early Warnings for All

As a reliable partner of the WMO SWFP, KMA has been continuously providing regionally tailored weather charts for three regions in Asia—SWFP-SA, SWFP-SeA, and SWFP-CA.

By extending its services to the Oceania region, KMA is further contributing to the implementation of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative and to building societies that are safer and more resilient to severe weather.

Further information on the countries and cities covered, as well as detailed data products provided, is available through the International NWP Service portal on KMA’s English-language website.

Weather map showing surface pressure, precipitation, and snow areas over East Asia for July 23, 2026, with high and low pressure marked and precipitation data overlaid.
Korea Meteorological Administration
Homepage of the International NWP Service by the Korea Meteorological Administration, highlighting the SWP-SAO service section with a yellow border.
Korea Meteorological Administration