IMD to use AI for improving forecasts

New Delhi, January 13

As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) celebrates 150th year of its establishment, the weather agency is planning on fine-tuning its forecast models using artificial intelligence (AI) and faster supercomputers.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the weather office was setting up test beds in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh to better understand the physical processes leading to the formation of thunderstorms and heavy monsoon rains. He said it could eventually help in improving forecasts.

He said the IMD had formed an expert group on AI and machine learning and was also collaborating with various institutions, including NITs and IITs, for developing tools to improve forecast accuracy. He admitted that the forecasting system was not capable of predicting phenomena such as cloudbursts and small-level severe weather events.

The IMD will begin its 150th anniversary celebrations on Monday with the launch of ‘Panchayat Mausam Seva’ to take weather forecasts to every farmer.