Bahrain is spending BD1.2 million ($3.18 million) in upgrading its weather reporting and early warning systems for aviation, it was announced.

Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) meteorology affairs assistant under-secretary Abdul Majeed Isa said the investment would make Bahrain's system one of the most advanced in the region.

He said such achievements were thanks to the support of the government, especially Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

He was speaking at a Press conference at the meteorology affairs headquarters near Bahrain International Airport.

He said BD300,000 worth of equipment had been installed at the newly-renovated facility and a super-sophisticated weather radar worth BD900,000 was on its way to Bahrain.

'The radar, when installed, will enable us to monitor in real time all weather-related activities, within 450km of Bahrain.

'We would then be able to detect storms, weather disturbances, low pressure areas and warn aviation appropriately of any impending danger.' He said Bahrain was the first country in the region to start recording weather data in 1902.

'The British Royal Air Force later opened a meteorological office in 1943 to serve aviation and military requirements and trained and employed a number of Bahrainis.'

After Bahrain's independence in 1972, the services were assigned to the CAA to provide meteorological information for aviation, people and the government, he said.

'Since then, the service has developed and grown and this latest expansion will make it more modern.' He said a new website, www.bahrainweather.com, was being set up to make people aware of the latest weather reports about Bahrain.

'There have been reports from unreliable sources on the Internet about Bahrain weather. Such reports should not be believed and people are urged to come to us for updated information or to log on to the website.'

He said Bahrain had played a very active role in World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and was elected president of its Regional Association II, comprising 35 nations, for two consecutive terms of four years.

'Bahrain is also chairing from this year the Permanent Arab Committee which is part of the Arab League,' said Isa.

He said Bahrain was also home to the regional office of the WMO, to which it was selected against strong international competition. 'One of the main reasons the WMO chose Bahrain as the site for its regional office was the support from the government, especially the Deputy Premier.

Isa, accompanied by meteorological operations chief Habib Ali Al A'Ali and meteorology affairs director Yousif Ali Khalaf, later took the Press on a guided tour of the facility.-TradeArabia News Service