Hyper-Local Forecasting: India’s Urban Weather Intelligence Enters a New Era with
Hyper-Local Forecasting: India is preparing for a major upgrade in its urban weather monitoring ecosystem as the Union Government moves ahead with an ambitious plan to strengthen hyper-local weather forecasting in key metropolitan regions. Under Mission Mausam Phase II, the deployment of 200 new Automatic Weather Stations is scheduled across Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune in 2026. This initiative reflects a growing recognition that modern cities require highly precise, real-time weather data to manage climate risks, urban flooding, heatwaves, and other weather-related challenges more effectively.
A Strategic Push for Hyper-Local Weather Data
Large metropolitan cities often experience sharp variations in weather conditions within short distances due to urban heat islands, dense construction, and complex geography. Traditional forecasting systems, while useful at a regional scale, often fall short in capturing these micro-level variations. The planned installation of 200 Automatic Weather Stations aims to bridge this gap by generating location-specific weather information that can support city administrations, disaster management authorities, and the general public.
By the end of the current year, the government plans to install 50 Automatic Weather Stations in each of the selected metropolitan cities. Once operational, these stations will provide continuous real-time data on temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. Such granular information is expected to significantly improve early warning systems and help cities respond more quickly to extreme weather events.
Strengthening Urban Preparedness and Resilience
Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to sudden weather disruptions, including cloudbursts, flash floods, and heat stress. Real-time weather forecasting plays a critical role in mitigating the impact of such events. With improved hyper-local data, city authorities will be better equipped to manage traffic, issue timely advisories, and plan emergency responses.
At present, India operates around 1,000 Automatic Weather Stations nationwide. While this network has supported national-level forecasting effectively, rapidly expanding urban populations have created a need for denser observation grids in cities. The current expansion plan is designed to address this imbalance and align weather monitoring infrastructure with modern urban realities.
Addressing Gaps in the National Capital
Delhi provides a clear example of why this expansion is necessary. Despite its vast geographic spread and dense population, the city currently operates only 18 Automatic Weather Stations. This limited coverage is insufficient to capture neighborhood-level weather variations, especially during extreme summers and intense monsoon spells.
To address this challenge, the government has announced the addition of 50 new Automatic Weather Stations in Delhi by 2026. These will complement existing departmental observatories and significantly enhance the city’s forecasting capabilities. Notably, 20 of these new stations are expected to be installed by the end of the current month, marking a swift start to the expansion process.
The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh, during the 151st anniversary celebrations of the India Meteorological Department. The occasion underscored both the long legacy of India’s weather services and their evolving role in a rapidly changing climate environment.
Global Collaboration and Ocean Observation Systems
Weather forecasting accuracy does not depend solely on land-based observations. Ocean data plays a crucial role, particularly in predicting monsoons, cyclones, and long-term climate patterns. M Ravichandran, Secretary of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, highlighted the importance of diversifying global ocean observation systems.
He emphasized that India currently receives nearly 50 percent of its ocean observation data from the United States. To ensure data reliability and resilience, India is encouraging other countries to upgrade and share their ocean monitoring capabilities. A broader and more diverse data pool will reduce dependency on a single source and strengthen global weather prediction models.
Rising Trust in Forecast Accuracy
Over the past decade, the credibility of India’s weather forecasts has improved substantially. According to experts, this improvement has led to an unprecedented increase in demand for meteorological services from sectors such as agriculture, aviation, shipping, urban planning, and disaster management.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department, noted that forecast accuracy has improved by more than 40 to 50 percent compared to earlier decades. Cyclone tracking accuracy has seen a notable rise of nearly 35 to 40 percent, while errors in monthly and seasonal forecasts have dropped sharply from about 7.5 percent to nearly 2.5 percent.
Technology, Investment, and the Road Ahead
These improvements are the result of sustained investment in technology, advanced numerical models, high-performance computing, and skilled human resources. Institutional support over the last decade has played a decisive role in transforming India’s weather forecasting capabilities from a basic advisory service into a sophisticated decision-support system.
The upcoming expansion of Automatic Weather Stations under Mission Mausam Phase II represents another critical step in this journey. By focusing on hyper-local forecasting in major cities, India is aligning its meteorological infrastructure with the demands of urban resilience and climate adaptation. As cities continue to grow and climate risks intensify, such initiatives will be essential in safeguarding lives, infrastructure, and economic stability.