India Expands Doppler Weather Radar Network To Boost Forecasting

05 May 2026 CW Team

Senior officials from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and IMD attended the event. The minister attributed the transformation to government priority and leadership, saying it has delivered greater accuracy, accessibility and public trust in forecasts. He noted that forecasts are now routinely consulted by farmers, pilots and event planners.

He outlined Nowcast services that provide highly localised and accurate forecasts for the next three hours. These services supply detailed inputs on rainfall intensity, type of precipitation, the possibility of hailstorms and even the size of raindrops. Real-time information was presented as crucial for disaster preparedness and urban planning.

He described how DWR technology uses the Doppler effect to track movement and velocity of weather systems and explained that modern radars deployed by IMD are equipped with dual-polarisation capability. This allows better distinction of precipitation types, improved rainfall estimation and reduced false signals. The network supports continuous atmospheric monitoring and early warnings for cyclones, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

The minister highlighted benefits for aviation safety, agricultural planning and disaster risk reduction and noted that enhanced forecasting is aiding neighbouring countries through cooperation. He referred to installations in vulnerable regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and said initiatives like the Selfie Point aim to raise public awareness and encourage use of IMD services via mobile applications, SMS alerts and social media. Officials added that these measures will help bridge the gap between scientific advancement and public engagement.

India has expanded its Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) network since 2014, rising from 14 operational units to 50, an over 250 per cent increase. The additions now cover over 87 per cent of the country and are set to improve forecasting for cyclones, heavy rain and thunderstorms, with 50 more DWRs planned under Mission Mausam. A Selfie Point depicting a weather radar was inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) headquarters in New Delhi. Senior officials from the Ministry of Earth Sciences and IMD attended the event. The minister attributed the transformation to government priority and leadership, saying it has delivered greater accuracy, accessibility and public trust in forecasts. He noted that forecasts are now routinely consulted by farmers, pilots and event planners. He outlined Nowcast services that provide highly localised and accurate forecasts for the next three hours. These services supply detailed inputs on rainfall intensity, type of precipitation, the possibility of hailstorms and even the size of raindrops. Real-time information was presented as crucial for disaster preparedness and urban planning. He described how DWR technology uses the Doppler effect to track movement and velocity of weather systems and explained that modern radars deployed by IMD are equipped with dual-polarisation capability. This allows better distinction of precipitation types, improved rainfall estimation and reduced false signals. The network supports continuous atmospheric monitoring and early warnings for cyclones, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. The minister highlighted benefits for aviation safety, agricultural planning and disaster risk reduction and noted that enhanced forecasting is aiding neighbouring countries through cooperation. He referred to installations in vulnerable regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and said initiatives like the Selfie Point aim to raise public awareness and encourage use of IMD services via mobile applications, SMS alerts and social media. Officials added that these measures will help bridge the gap between scientific advancement and public engagement.

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