Lok Sabha Question No. 1177 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-23
Subject: Temperature Outlook
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1177

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016

## TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK

## 1177.  PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Indian  Meteorological  Department  proposes  to  bring  out temperature outook;
- (b) if so, the details, objectives and the salient features thereof along with the benefits likely to accrue there from;
- (c)
- the agencies involved in the programme; and
- (d) the  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  to  create  awareness  about  the  said programme amongst people?

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND

## ANSWER MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) Yes,  Madam.  India  Meteorological  Department  (IMD)  has  already  started issuing  of  the  Hot  Weather  Season  Outlooks  from  the  summer  season  of 2016, i.e. starting from April 2016. It is also proposed to bring out a Cold Weather Outlook for the period from 2016 December to 2017 February.
- (b) Temperature outlook is issued for hot and cold weather season temperatures  over  the  country  based  on  predictions  using  the  oceanatmosphere  coupled  climate  model  developed  by  the  Indian  Institute  of Tropical  Meteorology  (IITM),  Pune,  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences.  The  model predictions of temperatures have moderate prediction skill. Climate Services Division of IMD issues a seasonal outlook prior to the starting of the season, specifying whether temperature for the season as a whole is likely  to  be  above  normal  (Long  term  climatological  average)  or  below normal. This would be supplemented by the subsequent weekly updates of extended  range  forecasts,  based  on  dynamical  models  on  both  day maximum & night minimum temperatures.

IMD maintains a close watch on the local temperature changes. It issues warnings whenever any places is threatened by cold or very hot weather, to alert members of the public to the danger of low body temperature in cold weather or the risk of heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

- (c) IITM,  IMD,  various  state  governments,  TV  channels  and  News  Papers  are involved in this programme.
- (d) Upon  prediction  of  the  heat  wave  conditions  by  the  IMD,  various  state Governments  have  a  system  of  giving  wide  publicity  of  Dos  and  Don'ts through advertisements in TV channels, News Papers and opening drinking water camps at identified places in rural and urban areas to mitigate the impact of heat waves.  The heat action plan is being implemented in cities across central India since 2016 including Ahmedabad, Surat, Nagpur, Akola, Gondia,  Chandrapur,  Nanded,  Jalgaon,  Bhubaneswar  and  Cuttack.    The schedule  of  National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Scheme  workers  is adjusted  to  avoid  exposure  to  extreme  hot  weather  duration  periods. Advisories include precautionary measures to avoid heat  stroke include drinking plenty of water, avoiding going out in open heat during 10 AM-4 PM; wearing  light  coloured  clothes;  covering  head/using  umbrella  while  going out; monitoring symptoms of heat stroke etc.

User interaction workshops are also planned at every State and Regional Meteorological  Centres,  to  create  awareness  of  the  products  and  their utility.  Such  programmes  will  be  conducted  with  the  involvement  of targeted users in the heat/cold wave prone regions of the country.

*******