Odisha to enhance weather forecasting with three new doppler weather radars

Bhubaneswar, Dec 23: In a bid to enhance meteorological forecasting capabilities, plans are underway to install three additional Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) in Odisha.

According to sources, the Ministry of Earth Sciences is taking steps to implement these new radars, which will improve the weather forecasting system in the region. By 2026, a total of 126 DWRs will be established across India. Currently, 73 radars are operational, and an additional 53 are set to be installed, including three in Odisha—specifically in Bhubaneswar, Balasore, and Sambalpur.

The Doppler radar located in Bhubaneswar will be particularly useful for gathering detailed information about urban and artificial flooding, as well as monitoring air quality in the city.

The DWR network is primarily employed to monitor localized thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, enabling timely nowcast warnings for up to three hours in advance. The data collected from these radars is integrated into Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models, especially for short-term forecasts of rainfall and thunderstorms, allowing for predictions of 6 to 12 hours ahead. Appropriate warnings and alerts are issued based on the information provided by these radars.

Additionally, a Doppler weather radar station was inaugurated at Jamadarpali in Sambalpur by Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday. The entire project is expected to be fully operational within six months after the DWR system installation.