Rain or shine, be prepared

Feb. 8: Wondering what is lying in store for you tomorrow, rain or sunshine? Now you may get a more accurate answer from the weatherman as forecasts have become much more accurate thanks to a satellite based Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) system in use at the Indian Meteorological Department on Palace Road since the last couple of months.
“The new weather forecasting system has enhanced the accuracy of prediction. The software uses satellite images to study and predict weather parameters and gives a forecast twice a day,” says director B. Puttanna, director, IMD Bengaluru.
The system has been in use since December and has proved satisfactory, according to him. All IMDs across the country have been fitted with the new software by the Union ministry of science and technology under its modernisation programme.
The technology used helps provide forecasts over smaller areas and point-to-point information.
“The minimum range of a WRF model is 3 to 9 km. It is now possible to predict the amount of rainfall, direction of wind and maximum/minimum temperatures over these small stretches,” Mr Puttanna explains, adding that it has become easier to explain variations like rain on MG Road during the pre-monsoon months of March, April and May and no sight of a drizzle on nearby old Airport Road.
As pre-monsoon showers over isolated areas can also now be predicted, farmers will have advance notice of thunder storms which could help them save their crops and fruit-yielding plants.