PCMC launches advanced rainfall and flood forecasting early warning system

The system has been developed by C-DAC under the Government of India’s National Supercomputing Mission (NSM), jointly implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

As part of this initiative, PCMC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with C-DAC to implement the forecasting and early warning system specifically tailored for the city.

The system integrates advanced high-resolution modeling for weather, hydrology, and air quality to generate forecasts up to 72 hours in advance at the city’s ward, village, and tehsil levels. It is designed to support disaster management, policy-making, and real-time response by providing actionable and location-specific insights, the civic administration said.

“Preparedness is the foundation of a safe city. The advanced rainfall and flood forecasting system developed with C-DAC will make Pimpri Chinchwad city areas more responsive, informed, and resilient. It will empower the administration to take timely and effective decisions, ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens,” said PCMC commissioner Shekhar Singh.

One of the sytem’s key features include high-resolution integrated modelling. Built on high-performance computing, the system delivers coupled forecasts for rainfall, heatwaves/cold waves, flood risk, integrated reservoir operations, and air pollution across various administrative levels. The system also has an automated forecast validation mechanism. In this, an automated system has been developed to assess forecast accuracy by comparing model outputs with observed data, helping improve the reliability of early warnings.

The system will also include web-based GIS decision support system. Here, an end-to-end, interactive platform offers alert dissemination, GIS-based visualisation, and data analytics—benefitting both administrators and citizens in planning and preparedness.

The system will incorporate localised and actionable intelligence, wherein the system equips authorities with localized forecasts and real-time observations, enabling timely and effective disaster mitigation and response.

Through this initiative, PCMC aims to enhance its capacity for early detection of environmental hazards and ensure timely interventions. The system will significantly strengthen urban disaster preparedness and help protect lives and infrastructure during extreme weather events.