Hyderabad: There is a need for precise monsoon forecasts, including accurate timing, location, and rainfall intensity, said HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath calling for more precise monsoon forecasts to tackle urban flooding and associated challenges in the city.
Speaking at the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) commissioner called for detailed and actionable weather predictions.
“While the India Meteorological Department has made significant strides in forecasting tropical cyclones, there remains a critical need for better predictions of low-intensity disasters like urban flooding, cloudbursts, and localised rainfall. Current weather updates are inadequate for timely disaster response,” he stated.
Highlighting the challenges specific to the city, Ranganath emphasised that broad advisories such as “heavy to very heavy rainfall” or “wind speed warnings” fall short for urban areas like Hyderabad. “Our roads get flooded with just 2 to 3 cm of rainfall. Since most rainfall occurs in the late afternoon and evening, it exacerbates traffic congestion, worsening the problem,” he added.
He also pointed to the city’s 140 waterlogging points as a persistent issue and underlined the need for enhanced monitoring systems and additional radar stations to improve coverage and analysis. “This would enable both the disaster response force and city residents to plan better,” Ranganath said.
Scientists from IMD also discussed the impact of global warming on rainfall patterns and weather events over the past decade.
“Telangana receives 80% of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon. However, there are significant variations within the season. We’ve observed rising temperatures, fewer cold wave days, and irregular precipitation patterns, including erratic summer showers,” said K Nagaratna, a senior scientist at IMD.
She added that global warming has disrupted natural seasonal flows, posing unprecedented challenges in forecasting and managing weather-related events.
The event also marked the release of the ‘Statement of climate for the state of Telangana 2023′, which detailed rainfall trends in the state over the past year.
HOW IMD FORECASTS WEATHER THE STORM ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTORS
Disaster management
Plan and execute disaster preparedness measures
Deploy emergency services during floods or cyclones
Telangana state police
Manage traffic during weather events that cause road blockages
Enhance public safety during emergencies like floods
Fire and rescue services
Deploy teams to areas predicted to experience storms
Support evacuation efforts in flooded zones
Airports authority of India
Ensure aviation safety & manage delays caused by weather
Plan air traffic control & runway operations during heavy rain
Health services department
Predict & address health risks associated with extreme weather
Plan medical supplies distribution to affected areas during floods
Central water commission
Use precipitation data to manage reservoirs, dams & canals
Mitigate flood or drought risks by regulating water release
Ocean information services
Monitor and predict marine weather
Issue alerts for coastal storms and support the fishing community
Groundwater department
Recharge groundwater resources by identifying areas of likely rainfall
Optimise groundwater extraction during dry spells
Department of agriculture
Provide timely advisories to farmers on planting, irrigation & harvesting
Minimise crop losses due to adverse weather conditions like floods
(PJTSAU-Agriculture Meteorology Field Unit and Central Institute for Dryland Agriculture also use it for similar purposes)
Speaking at the 150th-anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) commissioner called for detailed and actionable weather predictions.
“While the India Meteorological Department has made significant strides in forecasting tropical cyclones, there remains a critical need for better predictions of low-intensity disasters like urban flooding, cloudbursts, and localised rainfall. Current weather updates are inadequate for timely disaster response,” he stated.
Highlighting the challenges specific to the city, Ranganath emphasised that broad advisories such as “heavy to very heavy rainfall” or “wind speed warnings” fall short for urban areas like Hyderabad. “Our roads get flooded with just 2 to 3 cm of rainfall. Since most rainfall occurs in the late afternoon and evening, it exacerbates traffic congestion, worsening the problem,” he added.
He also pointed to the city’s 140 waterlogging points as a persistent issue and underlined the need for enhanced monitoring systems and additional radar stations to improve coverage and analysis. “This would enable both the disaster response force and city residents to plan better,” Ranganath said.
Scientists from IMD also discussed the impact of global warming on rainfall patterns and weather events over the past decade.
“Telangana receives 80% of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon. However, there are significant variations within the season. We’ve observed rising temperatures, fewer cold wave days, and irregular precipitation patterns, including erratic summer showers,” said K Nagaratna, a senior scientist at IMD.
She added that global warming has disrupted natural seasonal flows, posing unprecedented challenges in forecasting and managing weather-related events.
The event also marked the release of the ‘Statement of climate for the state of Telangana 2023′, which detailed rainfall trends in the state over the past year.
HOW IMD FORECASTS WEATHER THE STORM ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTORS
Disaster management
Plan and execute disaster preparedness measures
Deploy emergency services during floods or cyclones
Telangana state police
Manage traffic during weather events that cause road blockages
Enhance public safety during emergencies like floods
Fire and rescue services
Deploy teams to areas predicted to experience storms
Support evacuation efforts in flooded zones
Airports authority of India
Ensure aviation safety & manage delays caused by weather
Plan air traffic control & runway operations during heavy rain
Health services department
Predict & address health risks associated with extreme weather
Plan medical supplies distribution to affected areas during floods
Central water commission
Use precipitation data to manage reservoirs, dams & canals
Mitigate flood or drought risks by regulating water release
Ocean information services
Monitor and predict marine weather
Issue alerts for coastal storms and support the fishing community
Groundwater department
Recharge groundwater resources by identifying areas of likely rainfall
Optimise groundwater extraction during dry spells
Department of agriculture
Provide timely advisories to farmers on planting, irrigation & harvesting
Minimise crop losses due to adverse weather conditions like floods
(PJTSAU-Agriculture Meteorology Field Unit and Central Institute for Dryland Agriculture also use it for similar purposes)
