About LMS

Mission Statement
To improve the livelihood of Basotho through effective application of the science of Meteorology and harmonization of their socio-economic activities with weather and climate

Goals

• To provide meteorological services that would contribute towards environmentally sound and sustainable socio-economic development of Lesotho.
• To carry out observations of the atmosphere and weather elements at the earth's surface and developing a sound data bank and archiving system to create the National Climate Record.
• To implement on behalf of the Government of Lesotho, the international obligations on meteorology which Lesotho is signatory to.

History
Lesotho Meteorological Services was created in 1974 as a division within the then Department of Hydrology and Meteorological services. In 1988 when this department was upgraded to the present department of Water Affairs, LMS became a distinct 'Cost Centre' with its own budget but still within the department of Water Affairs. It was finally upgraded to the status of a fully fledged department under the Ministry of Natural Resources on the 1st August 2000.

However, meteorological records in Lesotho go far back to 1889. The responsibility to collect meteorological data was shared by both the British administration and the South African authority. One of the first tasks undertaken by LMS when it was formed was to collect all the climate records of the country. Thus, LMS posseses a Climate Record of over 120 years.

Working in Meteorology
Meteorology is a very broad and interesting branch of atmospheric science. There is a wide spectrum of areas in which a meteorologist can persue, from aviation, marine, agriculture, space, atmosphere and now of late in commerce, climate change and other newly emerging markets in which meteorology can be applied.