Cyclone warning systems become substantially more accurate

NEW DELHI: Cyclone warning systems have become substantially more accurate, with improvements of up to 65 percent in landfall prediction within 48 hours, a senior official on Monday said.

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

Addressing a press conference on 11 years of the Modi government, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) Secretary M Ravichandran said forecasts of other severe weather events such as heavy rainfall, fog, and heatwaves have improved by 40 percent over the last five years.

Monsoon forecasting has also seen a major shift, moving from statistical to physics-based models under the National Monsoon Mission, significantly enhancing the accuracy and spatial resolution of seasonal predictions.

"These improvements are the result of sustained investments in research infrastructure and technology over the past decade," said Ravichandran, while outlining the ministry's key achievements from 2014 to 2025.

Among the major milestones highlighted was the launch of the Bharat Forecast System in May 2025, a high-resolution (6 km) global weather model aimed at strengthening India's capability in weather prediction.

In September 2024, the government also rolled out "Mission Mausam," a nationwide initiative to make India "weather ready and climate smart."