Nepal became RIMES’ 21^st Member State on 10 June 2019, with the signing of the RIMES Cooperation Agreement. Following the signing, Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and RIMES discussed and prepared a 5-year capacity development program that builds on past and ongoing collaborative projects and current capacity building initiatives in the country. This program includes:

1. Data integration and management. RIMES shall assist DHM in integrating diverse data acquisition platforms, and in developing a data portal for storage, exchange, dissemination, and archiving.
2. Generation of forecasts at different timescales. RIMES shall work with DHM in developing: forecasting and warning system for extreme weather events; 10-day weather forecasting system that is based on products from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), customized over Nepal; monthly and seasonal ensemble prediction system from RIMES’ Forecast Customization System (FOCUS); and downscaled climate projections, using RIMES’ Climate Data Access and Analysis System (CDAAS).
3. Enhancement of the 3-day flood forecasting system. The system shall be expanded from the 3 basins that are currently covered (Narayani, Karnali, and Babai), to include all other major river basins in the country. Also, the system shall be upgraded to provide a range of forecasts, from sub-daily and 10-day flow information and flood alerts to monthly and seasonal outlooks, and with integration of snow melt component.
4. Development of forest fire monitoring and advisory system
5. Development of landslide monitoring and advisory system, in collaboration with the Department of Mines and Geology
6. Development of impact forecasting and advisory systems that use weather and climate information. This includes customization of RIMES tools: the Specialized Expert System for Agro-Meteorological Early Warning (SESAME) for generating and disseminating crop management advisories for specific crops at particular growth stage; System for Multi-Hazard Potential Impact Assessment and Emergency Response Tracking (SMART) for visualizing and managing resources for emergency response, generating and disseminating response advisories, and tracking and managing emergency response; and Climate Risk Information for Public Health (CRISH) for generating and disseminating health advisories.
7. Sustained technical support to the Monsoon Forum
8. Training of forecasters on secondment to RIMES
9. Training of users through Climate Risk Management Field Schools

Mr. Saraju Kumar Baidya, Director General, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal, is congratulated by Mr. A.R. Subbiah, Director, RIMES Program Unit, on signing of the RIMES Cooperation Agreement

Mr. Saraju Kumar Baidya, DHM Director General (left), and Mr. A.R. Subbiah, RIMES Program Unit Director (right), sign the Nepal Action Plan for enhancing Nepal’s multi-hazard early warning system

As RIMES Member State, Nepal takes on the responsibilities to exchange observation and monitoring data for the sole purpose of early warning service delivery, and own, manage and maintain the RIMES facility in Thailand, including its services. The table below lists RIMES Member States and their dates of joining.

Twenty-seven other countries that are collaborating under RIMES have not yet completed the formalities of Agreement signing.