Lok Sabha Question No. 532 (STARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Weather Forecasting and Cyclone Warning in Lakshadweep
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES STARRED QUESTION NO. *532

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 1 ST  APRIL, 2026

## WEATHER FORECASTING AND CYCLONE WARNING IN LAKSHADWEEP

## *532.         SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  current  mechanisms  and  systems  put  in  place  for  weather forecasting and cyclone warning in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep;
- (b) the details of frequency and accuracy of weather forecasts provided for the coastal and remote islands;
- (c) the steps taken to strengthen early warning systems and ensure timely dissemination of weather alerts to residents, fishermen and maritime operators;
- (d) the budget allocated and utilised for enhancing weather forecasting infrastructure in Lakshadweep during the last three years; and
- (e) the measures taken/being taken to integrate modern technology, such as satellite monitoring,  mobile  alerts  and  community  awareness  programmes  to  improve weather preparedness in the islands?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO (a) to (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *532 REGARDING "WEATHER FORECASTING AND CYCLONE WARNING IN LAKSHADWEEP" TO BE ANSWERED ON APRIL 1, 2026

- (a) The Government has established an institutional mechanism for weather forecasting and the issuance of early warning alerts for major natural events, such as cyclones, across  the  country,  including  the  Union  Territory  of  Lakshadweep.  The  India Meteorological  Department (IMD),  under  the Ministry,  has  established a robust mechanism for weather forecasting and cyclone warning for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep through the Meteorological Centre Thiruvananthapuram, which also acts as a Cyclone Warning Centre for this purpose. A comprehensive Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) consisting of observational networks, forecasting models, a GIS-based interactive Decision Support System (DSS), and dissemination mechanisms is in place for seamless monitoring and forecasting of severe  weather  systems,  including  cyclones  over  the  Arabian  Sea  affecting Lakshadweep.

Forecasting  services  include  extended  range  (up  to  two  weeks)  forecasts  (for cyclogenesis and other severe weathers), medium-range forecasts (for 5 to 7 days) of  all-weather  including  5  days  track  &  intensity  forecast  and  4  stages  cyclone warnings (pre-cyclone watch, alert, warning and post-landfall outlook), nowcasting (up to 3 hours), sea area & coastal weather bulletins and fishermen warnings, port warnings, which provide information regarding all weather elements  (wind, sea state, swell waves, visibility, rainfall, etc.) with their hazard characteristic.

Observational systems include Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), manual surface observations at Minicoy, Amini, and Agatti, upper-air observations from Minicoy and  Aminidivi,  satellite-based  monitoring,  and  radar  coverage  from  mainland systems. The Airport Meteorological Station at Agatti records Met Observations for the  preparation  of  half-hourly  weather  information  and  meteorological  reports (METARs). Additionally, ship and buoy observations, along with radar (Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram), are being utilized by the IMD for weather forecasting for the Lakshadweep Islands.

Warnings are disseminated through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), SMS alerts, official websites, mobile apps, media platforms, and coordination with UT administration  and  disaster  management  authorities,  ensuring  timely,  actionable information for public safety.

- (b) Weather  forecasts  for  coastal  and  remote  islands,  including  Lakshadweep,  are issued  by  the  IMD  through  its  operational  forecasting  center  -  Meteorological Centre Thiruvananthapuram. The frequency of forecasts and accuracy of warnings for heavy rainfall are as follows:

## Frequency of forecasts:

| Type of forecast                             | Validity period                                     | Issue frequency                                                     |
|----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Nowcast warnings                             | Up to 3 hours                                       | updated every 3 hours (with additional updates as required)         |
| Short/medium- range forecasts                | Up to 7 days                                        | updated four times daily                                            |
| Extended range forecasts                     | Up to two weeks                                     | Issued weekly (Thursday)                                            |
| Coastal weather bulletins                    | 12 hours                                            | Issued twice daily, and more frequently during adverse weather      |
| Fishermen Warnings                           | Next 5 days                                         | Issued four times daily, and more frequently during adverse weather |
| Cyclone warnings                             | Stage 1 Pre-Cyclone Watch -72 Hours in advance      | Issued in a four- stage format with increasing frequency            |
| Cyclone warnings                             | Stage 2- Cyclone Alert- 48 Hours in advance         | Issued in a four- stage format with increasing frequency            |
| Cyclone warnings                             | Stage 3-Cyclone Warning- -4 Hours in advance        | Issued in a four- stage format with increasing frequency            |
| Cyclone warnings                             | Stage 4- Post-Landfall Outlook- 12 Hours in advance | Issued in a four- stage format with increasing frequency            |
| Special bulletins and impact-based forecasts | Same as above                                       | Issued as and when required                                         |
| District-Wise Weather Warnings               | Up to 5 days                                        | Issued four times daily                                             |
| Local weather reports& forecasts for cities  | Up to 7 days                                        | Updated twice daily                                                 |

Mausamgram:  The  Mausamgram  platform  (mausamgram.imd.gov.in)  is  IMD's specialized weather interface at the panchayat level, designed for farmers. It offers hourly,  3-hourly,  and  6-hourly  forecasts  for  the  upcoming  ten  days.  Users  can access  real-time  data  on  temperature,  wind  speed,  cloud  cover,  rainfall,  and humidity specific to the Gram Panchayat level.

## Accuracy of warnings for extreme weather (heavy rainfall) for five days:

| Verified parameters            |   DAY 1 |   DAY 2 |   DAY 3 |   DAY 4 |   DAY 5 |
|--------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| Percentage Correctness         |    72.6 |    81.1 |    83.1 |    89.3 |    81   |
| Probability of detection (POD) |     1   |     0.7 |     0.5 |     0.8 |     0.4 |
| Skill Score                    |     0.7 |     0.6 |     0.4 |     0.7 |     0.2 |

- (c)-(e) The Government has taken steps to strengthen early warning systems and to ensure the timely dissemination of weather alerts across the country, including the Union Territory  of  Lakshadweep.  In  this  regard,  the  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  has developed  advanced  early  warning  systems  for  severe  weather  events,  including cyclones,  supported  by  a  state-of-the-art  observation  network,  high-resolution dynamical models, and data assimilation techniques, along with an end-to-end GISbased DSS for the detection and monitoring of weather hazards, including in coastal and remote island regions.

These  systems  are  integrated  with  modern  telecommunications  technologies  and supported by a range of dissemination mechanisms to facilitate timely communication of alerts and warnings to all concerned stakeholders, including local authorities,  State  Governments,  Union  Territories,  State  Disaster  Management Authorities (SDMAs), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as well as  residents, fishermen, and  maritime operators, enabling them  to take appropriate mitigation measures.  Effective dissemination  methods  for  weather  information  and  alerts  by  the  MoES  are  as follows:

-  Public alerts and information are disseminated through mobile applications such as MAUSAM, MEGHDOOT, DAMINI, and UMANG.
-  Digital dissemination channels include e-mail and SMS-based nowcasting and forecasting alerts to registered users.
-  Alerts are issued through the Common Alerting Protocol and the SACHET App.
-  Information is shared via social media and mass media platforms.
-  District  Collectors  are  informed  through  direct  e-mail  and  WhatsApp  group notifications.
-  Broadcast  dissemination  is  carried  out  through  community  radio,  public broadcasting systems, and other local communication networks.
-  Dissemination is also undertaken through mobile applications.
-  Gram  Panchayat-level  weather  forecasting  (GPLWF)  is  facilitated  through digital platforms such as e-Gramswaraj, Meri Panchayat App, and e-Manchitra, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
-  Weather information is disseminated to Pashu Sakhi and Krishi Sakhi at the block  and  Panchayat  levels  in  collaboration  with  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development.
-  Forecasts are accessible through the Mausamgram  portal  of the India Meteorological Department.
-  IMD has also released a web-based 'Climate Hazard & Vulnerability Atlas of India' prepared for the 13 most hazardous meteorological events. The same can be accessed at the following link: https://imdpune.gov.in/hazardatlas/abouthazard.html.
-  A suitable colour code is used to highlight the impact of the severe weather expected and to signal disaster management on the course of action to be taken regarding an impending severe weather event.

The  Ministry  implements  Central  Sector  Schemes  uniformly  across  the  country; therefore,  funds  are  not  allocated  on  a  State/UT-wise  basis.  Funds  under  these schemes are not released directly by the MoES to the State/UT Governments for implementation.  Mission  Mausam  has  been  launched  by  the  Ministry  with  the objective of making Bharat a "weather-ready and climate-smart" nation, including islands. The Ministry is in continuous endeavour of augmenting the observational network  comprising  surface  and  upper-air  systems,  satellite  monitoring,  highresolution  dynamical  models,  data  assimilation  techniques,  and  research  and development infrastructure, towards achieving better accuracy in weather and oceanstate forecasting, and strengthening timely early warning systems.

The  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  and  its  institutions  regularly  conduct  awareness programmes for State and Union  Territory Governments, as well  as  communitybased initiatives, to enhance preparedness for weather- and climate-related hazards. The Ministry regularly engages with the National Disaster Management Authority, local management  authorities, and other stakeholders to discuss pre-season preparedness,  safety  procedures,  and  action  plans  in  advance  of  severe  weather seasons. These interactions cover tropical cyclone periods (April-June and OctoberNovember), the summer season and extreme-temperature conditions (April-June), and monsoonal heavy rainfall preparedness (June-December) each year.

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