PME to launch weather channel

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans to launch a weather forecast channel soon. The channel, which will be under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Information, will provide weather updates every hour, according to a senior official of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME). Prince Turki bin Nasser, chief of the PME, said the channel would play a key role in increasing environmental awareness among the public and educating them on how to tackle natural disasters, such as the flash floods. Jeddah and other parts of the Kingdom were hit by heavy rains and floods over the past few years. “The PME has 18 branch offices and 32 weather forecast centers across the Kingdom. They are extending the best possible services to all the concerned departments by supplying weather forecasts and related information,” he said. Addressing a press conference at the PME headquarters in Jeddah, Prince Turki said the authority would sign 13 agreements with various municipalities in the Kingdom to implement a national environment program that aim to transform participating cities into green ones. The agreements will be signed on the sidelines of the International Forum for Infrastructure and its Impact on the Environment, to be held at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Jeddah. The event will be held with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. More than 1,000 prominent figures, including environment experts and specialists from around the world, will attend the forum which will focus on the theme of green building and infrastructure and transport projects in the GCC states.” Prince Turki said that there would be seven scientific sessions focusing on environment and infrastructure at the forum.