IITM Unveils Advanced Radar, Joins Hands with ISRO

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has operationalised a state-of-the-art Doppler Weather Radar at Mahabaleshwar, aimed at significantly enhancing real-time weather monitoring and short-term forecasting in the Western Ghats region.

The advanced system functions as a high-precision atmospheric scanner, continuously tracking rainfall, cloud movement, wind patterns and storm development. With the capability to provide nowcasting of up to three hours, it is expected to improve timely weather alerts across parts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Satara, Konkan and Mumbai.

Experts noted that the radar’s dual-polarization technology enables detailed analysis of precipitation, including raindrop size and storm structure, allowing meteorologists to better understand rapidly evolving weather conditions such as intense rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds.

IITM, operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is responsible for installing and managing the radar, as well as analysing the data generated. The institute will use these observations to refine weather forecasts, study monsoon behaviour and conduct research on extreme weather events and climate patterns.

In a parallel development, IITM has entered into a collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Space Applications Centre to integrate satellite-based observations with ground radar data. The partnership is expected to improve forecast accuracy by combining localised real-time inputs with broader atmospheric data captured from space.

Officials said the combined approach would strengthen early warning systems for floods, landslides and severe weather, while also supporting sectors such as agriculture, aviation and disaster management.

The initiative is seen as a key step towards building a more robust weather observation network in India, improving preparedness for extreme weather events and advancing climate research through enhanced data integration.