The India Meteorology Department (IMD) activated a new urban radar network in Mumbai on Saturday, September 14. The system includes four newly installed X-band polarimetric radars. These radars will cover large parts of Mumbai and the surrounding areas. The goal is to improve rain forecasting in Mumbai.
The new radars are smaller and detect specific weather systems like thunderstorms and very heavy rainfall. The radars are installed at DJ Sanghvi College in Vile Parle, Amity University in Panvel, Vidyavardhini College of Engineering in Vasai, and Netivali Water Treatment Plant in Kalyan-Dombivali.
Each radar has a range of 60 km, which will allow them to monitor weather patterns within this radius. Together, the radars cover around 50,000 square kilometers. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IIT-M), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, played an important role in this radar network.
This new system will provide more precise forecasts by issuing now-cast warnings. The data will be updated every five minutes. After combining data from all four radars, real-time information on weather patterns in and around Mumbai will be available.
The introduction of the new radar network took place during a workshop organised by the IMD. It was held in Colaba to mark the IMD’s 150th anniversary. At the event, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, claimed that Mumbai is now the first city in India to have at least six radars monitoring it.
Stakeholders workshop on "Severe Weather and Meteorological Services over Maharashtra" organised by RMC today as part of the celebrations to mark 150th year of IMD. During this event, Mumbai weather RADAR network was inaugurated by Secretary, MoES @Ravi_MoES @Indiametdept pic.twitter.com/T7rXgsKD8J
— Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) September 14, 2024
Additionally, the IMD has placed 120 automatic weather stations across Mumbai. This was mentioned by Bhushan Gagrani, the municipal chief and state-appointed administrator of Mumbai, in the same event.
Mumbai already has two Doppler weather radars in place. A C-band radar is located in Veravali, near Andheri, and an S-band radar is installed at the IMD’s Colaba observatory. The new X-band radars have a shorter range but are more cost-effective and occupy less space. The C-band radar has a range of 400 km, while the S-band radar covers 500 km.
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