Mumbai can now forecast weather even up to 3 hours

This picture has been used for representational purpose

Mumbai is now equipped to forecast heavy rains and other weather events with greater accuracy. After nearly five years, the city will get a C-band Dual polarised Doppler weather radar on Friday. It has been installed at Veravali, Andheri. This radar can provide nowcasts - weather forecasts up to 3 hours.

The clamour for an upgraded radar system gained ground after the July 26 deluge in 2005. Initially, Mumbai was supposed to get an advanced doppler radar from China, but it was decided to get an India-made S-band radar over security reasons. The radar was installed in Colaba in 2010. While the S-band radar has a range of 450 km to 500 km, weather officials faced hurdles in monitoring the weather owing to the increasing numbers of high-rises in the city.

Five years ago, the India Meteorology Department (IMD) started efforts to procure a C-band radar and got it last year. The BMC has given the land for the second radar, said officials.

Fully indigenous design

"It is a fully indigenous design. Being a Dual polarised Doppler weather radar it is capable of providing a better estimation of rainfall and hydrometeor classification thus improving the forecasting and warning capabilities of IMD. This radar will help in providing nowcast for all types of severe weather events affecting the region, especially thunderstorms, lightning, squalls and heavy rainfall in conjunction with other tools and techniques," said an official from Mumbai IMD.

The IMD official said the new radar will facilitate a better understanding and monitoring of weather systems, hydrological applications, flood warnings, and also climate research. Earlier, IMD had faced criticism as the S-band radar remained non-functional on many crucial instances, including cyclone Tauktae last year.