THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid criticism the India Meteorological Department (IMD) failed to provide adequate warnings during the mid-August floods, Ministry of Earth Sciences secretary M Rajeevan underlined the importance of accurately interpreting weather-related warnings issued by IMD.
Speaking after inaugurating the Cyclone Warning Centre at the IMD Meteorological Centre here on Tuesday, he said weather prediction involves probabilities and no organisation can give accurate forecasts every single time. “But if we give eight correct forecasts out of 10, the question is how the eight forecasts can be put to use to save lives and minimise damage. That is the skill the state government has to acquire. We will be happy to provide support as well as guidance to the government,” he said.
General rainfall predictions made for the entire country cannot be used for dam management, he said. Rajeevan’s remarks have come against the backdrop of the criticism directed at the IMD in the wake of the mid-August floods. Rajeevan said the ministry has received the state’s letter criticising the accuracy of IMD forecasts and the matter will be looked into.
IMD plans to set up more automatic weather stations and automatic rain gauges in the state as part of improving weather forecasts, he said. The two weather radars in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will be supplemented by a third one in Mangalapuram in 18 months. This will ensure full coverage for the state. The intensity of rainfall events is increasing in states including Kerala, he said. The Central Water Commission plans to establish a flood-warning system for Kerala and the IMD will provide adequate support to the system with weather forecasts, he said.
IMD director general K J Ramesh said the government weather agency is in the process of introducing impact-based forecast systems and risk-based warning mechanism for all coastal districts. Additional Chief Secretary P H Kurian, IMD Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre head (services) M Mohapatra, Regional Meteorological Centre (Chennai) deputy director general S Balachandran and Thiruvananthapuram unit director K Santhosh spoke.
For dithering weather
The Central Water Commission plans to establish a flood-warning system for Kerala
IMD plans to set up more automatic weather stations and automatic rain gauges in the state as part of improving weather forecasts
The two weather radars in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will be supplemented by a third one in Mangalapuram in 18 months
LIGHTNING APP IN THE WORKS
Lightning strikes are the cause of numerous deaths every year. Now, a mobile app that provides prompt updates on lightning and thunderstorm events is in the works for Kerala, said Ministry of Earth Sciences secretary M Rajeevan. He said a network of eight lightning detectors have been established, each with a range of 200 km. The app will provide information on thunderstorm activities taking place at a given time. “We can also know the direction in which the storm is moving,” he said.
The app, which is now undergoing data-related tests, is expected to be ready in two months’ time, he said. Maharashtra was the first to get the lightning app. Kerala was chosen as the second state due to the frequency of lightning-related events. Natural features such as topography are the main reasons for this phenomenon. On the other hand, man-made structures such as mobile towers have no role, he said.