Ahmedabad: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is preparing to significantly strengthen Gujarat’s weather monitoring network under Mission Mausam. So far, the state has mainly relied on the Bhuj radar for observations, but the upgraded system will include advanced S-Band Doppler weather radars (DWRs) in Ahmedabad and Surat, along with a C-Band radar in Gandhinagar.

With the installation of these radars, the accuracy of cyclone tracking and heavy rainfall prediction is expected to improve by 5–10 percent. The new setup will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to generate weather updates every hour. Once the project is completed within the next two to three years, the availability of real-time data is expected to greatly benefit sectors such as bullet train operations, metro services, and aviation.

During extreme weather events like intense rainfall or strong winds, live radar inputs will help authorities regulate the speed of trains and metro services. More precise information on visibility, wind speed, and wind shear during aircraft take-off and landing will also enhance flight safety.

Current system depends on layered data

At present, due to the absence of a radar in Ahmedabad, weather monitoring depends on a multi-layered data system. This includes remote observation using the Bhuj radar, cloud monitoring through INSAT satellite imagery, and data from automatic weather stations installed across the city that record temperature, humidity, and wind conditions.

Currently, alerts related to storms and lightning are generally issued every three hours, but after the upgrade, warnings will be available every hour in near real time.

How Doppler radar works

A Doppler radar sends radio waves into the atmosphere through its antenna. When these waves strike raindrops or cloud particles, the signals are reflected back to the radar, allowing scientists to measure their distance and movement.

Using this information, meteorologists can determine whether rainfall or storm clouds are moving towards or away from the radar, helping improve forecast accuracy. The IMD uses different radar types — S-Band, C-Band, and X-Band. The S-band radar provides a radial coverage of 400 km, whereas C-band and X-band provide 250 km and 100 km, respectively. DeshGujarat