As extreme weather events become more frequent, the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) are harnessing citizen science to improve local weather monitoring, strengthen early warning systems, and help vulnerable communities better prepare for climate-related disasters.

The WRC-funded project, led by SAWS in collaboration with researchers from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Cape Town, examined how citizen science can support early warning systems for weather- and climate-related hazards. The three-year project was implemented in five climate-vulnerable communities: Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape, Swayimane in KwaZulu-Natal, Malamulele in Limpopo, Cullinan in Gauteng, and Manenberg in the Western Cape.

The initiative culminated in a World Environment Day celebration at the Albertina Sisulu Science Centre in Cofimvaba, Eastern Cape, where citizen scientists were honoured for their contributions to climate monitoring and environmental stewardship.

According to project leader Michael Mengistu, lead scientist at SAWS, the initiative was driven by a simple reality: climate change impacts are felt most acutely at the community level, particularly among poor and marginalised populations. Recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, along with recurring droughts across the country, have highlighted communities’ vulnerability to extreme weather events.

The project therefore sought to place communities at the centre of climate resilience efforts.

“We issue warnings from the South African Weather Service. We need to make sure that the information we issue reaches all members of the community, including communities and citizen scientists,” Mengistu explains.

Testing citizen weather stations

One of the project’s primary objectives was to assess the reliability of low-cost citizen weather stations by comparing them with SAWS’ professional monitoring equipment. These affordable weather stations can be operated by community members, thereby expanding weather observation networks into areas with limited formal infrastructure.

Citizen scientists were trained to install and operate the stations, collect weather data, and interpret climate information. The stations provide near-real-time observations that complement existing monitoring networks and contribute valuable local data for forecasting and verification.

Importantly, the project was not only about technology. It focused equally on building climate literacy, helping communities understand weather forecasts, recognise climate risks, and respond appropriately when warnings are issued.

Co-designing early warning systems

A key feature of the initiative was its collaborative approach. Rather than imposing a solution on communities, researchers worked alongside citizen scientists to co-design community-based early warning systems. Through workshops and engagement sessions, participants identified local hazards, analysed climate trends, evaluated communication channels and assessed response capabilities.

The process centred on four interconnected elements of effective early warning systems:

1. Disaster risk knowledge
2. Detection, monitoring and forecasting
3. Warning dissemination and communication
4. Preparedness and response capabilities.

Across all five sites, WhatsApp emerged as the preferred platform for sharing weather alerts and impact-based warnings. Dedicated groups were established to distribute warnings issued by SAWS, enabling citizen scientists to rapidly share information within their communities.

This approach reflects a growing recognition that effective early warning systems depend as much on communication and trust as they do on scientific forecasting.

Bridging science and indigenous knowledge

One of the most innovative aspects of the project was its integration of indigenous knowledge systems with conventional meteorological science.

Workshops at the five study sites documented local environmental indicators that communities have traditionally used to predict weather. In Cofimvaba, for example, the appearance of southern ground hornbills, swallows, and hadedas was associated with approaching rainfall, while a red-tinged moon was believed to signal strong winds.

Researchers found that these traditional indicators remain valuable, especially when paired with scientific forecasting. However, many participants noted that climate change is undermining the reliability of long-standing environmental cues, underscoring the need to preserve indigenous knowledge while adapting to changing conditions.

The project demonstrated that integrating local knowledge with scientific information can improve hazard awareness, strengthen trust in warnings and encourage community participation in climate adaptation efforts.

Young people leading local action

The World Environment Day event also highlighted the role of young people in advancing environmental action.

Learners from schools involved in the project presented practical initiatives that address both climate adaptation and environmental sustainability. At Rainbow Preparatory Academy in Cofimvaba, learners established vegetable gardens using discarded tyres and plastic containers after discovering that many households struggled to grow food in the area’s rocky soils. The project has since expanded into community outreach and environmental education programmes.

Other learners presented research on climate change impacts, food security and sustainable agriculture, demonstrating how citizen science can inspire environmental leadership among the next generation.

Their presentations reinforced an important message: Climate resilience is not solely the responsibility of scientists, governments or institutions. Communities themselves have a critical role to play.

Building resilience from the ground up

The World Environment Day celebration recognised citizen scientists as more than data collectors. They are climate ambassadors, trusted communicators, and local champions of resilience.

The initiative aligns with global calls for inclusive climate action and supports several Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

For the WRC and SAWS, the project has shown that citizen science can significantly strengthen climate monitoring and early warning systems, particularly in data-scarce and underserved areas. Researchers now recommend scaling up similar initiatives nationally and supporting them with long-term funding, technical assistance, and stronger integration with existing disaster risk management programs.

“Often, the right solution does not rest with scientists alone. It rests with the people who live in the environment. Better decisions require better data and information, and citizen science helps us fill important gaps while strengthening environmental stewardship within communities. By combining indigenous and local knowledge with modern tools such as citizen weather stations, our communities are turning everyday wisdom into practical climate intelligence. That is not just science – it is wisdom in action,” says Dr. Jennifer Mulwanto, CEO, WRC.

She concludes: “Citizen science has always existed, long before we gave it a name or built digital platforms around it. In many African communities, grandmothers assessed the colour of the river, the taste of the water, the movement of birds, and the flowering of certain plants to read the coming of rain or drought. Farmers measured seasons by the lines on the land and the health of their crops; mothers judged whether fish or vegetables were safe to eat; and elders tracked changes in rivers, wetlands, and soils across generations. This was systematic observation, interpretation, and sharing of environmental knowledge embedded in daily life – in other words, citizen science. What we are doing now with weather stations, WhatsApp groups, and formal training is not inventing something new but recognising, valuing, and amplifying a practice that has always been there: communities as active observers, interpreters, and custodians of their own environment.”

As South Africa faces an increasingly uncertain climate future, the project offers a powerful lesson: resilience begins with informed and empowered communities. By placing weather stations, climate knowledge, and early warning tools directly in the hands of citizens, the initiative demonstrates that local action can meaningfully contribute to national climate resilience and sustainable development.

“Citizen science has always existed, long before we gave it a name or built digital platforms around it. In many African communities, grandmothers assessed the colour of the river, the taste of the water, the movement of birds, and the flowering of certain plants to read the coming of rain or drought. Farmers measured seasons by the lines on the land and the health of their crops; mothers judged whether fish or vegetables were safe to eat; and elders tracked changes in rivers, wetlands, and soils across generations. This was systematic observation, interpretation, and sharing of environmental knowledge embedded in daily life – in other words, citizen science. What we are doing now with weather stations, WhatsApp groups, and formal training is not inventing something new but recognising, valuing, and amplifying a practice that has always been there: communities as active observers, interpreters, and custodians of their own environment.”