The generalization of characteristics of weather extremes for a certain long duration defines the microclimate of a location. Consequently, extreme weather events must be forecasted over districts, cities, and blocks/wards, as they require information about weather parameters for the specified locations. Moreover, several factors (land use, vegetation, urban buildings, water bodies, aerosols, pollutants, etc.) modulate/control the spatial and temporal variability of microclimate characteristics.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) works through various schemes to enhance and upgrade observing networks to monitor smaller-scale characteristics of weather extremes all over India.           

Ministry has established a dense observation network of AWS/ARGs over megacities like Mumbai to provide rainfall data at the local scale. In cities like Delhi and Mumbai, IMD has installed multiple radars (especially X-Band) to monitor rain and thunderstorms at the hyper-local level.

Present satellites from India and other countries, as well as radars, provide immense scope for continuously monitoring weather phenomena. Specialized observing systems like wind profilers, ground-based radiometers, and Lidar provide added advantages in monitoring and forecasting extreme weather systems over Urban regions.

All those observations are then processed and analysed through a GIS-based Decision Support System (DSS). Under its urban weather forecasting and warning services, IMD, in collaboration with other organizations, provides important impact-based forecasts and warning information regarding extreme weather events in urban areas.           

However, weather forecasts are issued at the Panchayat level.

The Ministry has started implementing Panchayat-level weather forecasting to nearly 2.6 lakh panchayats. The innovative Mausamgram platform, developed by the IMD, delivers precise weather forecasts, offering hourly updates for an immediate 36 hours and comprehensive forecasts for the next 10 days. These updates cover critical parameters such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, and cloud conditions, which are essential datasets for farmers to make informed decision-making regarding sowing, harvesting, and irrigation. The platform makes weather forecast information accessible anytime and anywhere at the panchayat level across the country.

This information was given by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Science, Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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