Most African countries have lacked good forecasting methods as weather becomes increasingly extreme

A new weather forecasting system in Africa allows meteorologists to track approaching storms in real time, potentially saving lives from climate-related disasters, scientists said on Monday.

The technology is already used in developed countries but was not available until recently in most of sub-Saharan Africa, according to scientists behind the project at the University of Leeds.

"We had forecasting methods before but they were not as good," said David Koros, principal meteorologist at the Kenya Meteorological Department.

"Weather forecasting is potentially very valuable to people's lives in Africa in a way that I think people in northern countries are more detached from," said Doug Parker, a professor of meteorology at Leeds and co-lead of the project.

It allows meteorologists to alert people that there is a storm very close and headed their way, said Parker.