IMD will now issue area-wise forecast for Pune district

Had been issuing only city-specific forecast; move comes after sudden rain and hailstorm activity across state

After the sudden hailstorm activity and showers at various places in the state, including Pune, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) — which was largely depending on the manual observatory at the agriculture department for issuing forecast — has decided to put the data obtained from 12 automatic rain gauges in the city and district in the public domain.

While February and March experienced sudden spells of rain at isolated places in the city, the Met department was busy issuing forecast only for a specific area, although it had details from other areas as well. Though there has been huge hailstorm activity in the district, the Met department forecast catered only to the city, an official said.

With public pressure mounting following the sudden rain, the IMD will now give out the details obtained from all stations, officials said. With 12 automatic rain gauges, the Met department will soon issue area-wise forecast.

Deputy Director General of IMD Medha Khole said the sudden conflict of the easterlies and westerlies coupled with moisture has caused the hailstorm activity in March. She said such activity was unusual and the Met department will conduct a study on it. “There are two opposing systems — easterlies bringing in moisture-laden winds, while northerlies bringing in dry and cold winds. The dynamic instability coupled with moisture has caused this phenomenon, which is unusual. Leaving the coastal Maharashtra, all divisions of the state and parts of Madhya Pradesh and north Andhra Pradesh have seen this activity,’’ said Khole.

She said, “Clouds measuring up to 22 km in height and above freezing temperatures cause the hailstorm activity.”

Khole said at present, the manual observatory has a limited jurisdiction and so they would soon make available the data from the rain gauges installed in various parts of the city and district to the public.

“We have the data from all these stations. However, we were not putting it up in the public domain. However, with the recent thundershowers and hailstorm activity, there is a demand that area-wise details be given. Since we already have the details, it should not be difficult for us to issue these forecasts,’’ said a senior IMD official.

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The automatic rain gauges are at Chinchwad, Lavale, Magarpatta, NDA, Pashan, St Joseph’s school, Wadgaonsheri, Shivajinagar as well at Patas, Junnar and Ghodegaon. With Pune being the second city in the country to have these rain gauges, the Met department will be giving out the data.

The recent hailstorm activity in the district has damaged crops spread across 25,000 hectares and the district is all set to do the assessment of the same. Pune District Collector Saurabh Rao, who along with his team is assessing the crop damage, said: “Area-wise warning should be given so that farmers are ready and our officers are doing the needful.”

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