IMD rolls out block-level monsoon forecast system for 15 states to aid farmers
New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday unveiled a new weather model that will provide block-level forecasts of the monsoon’s onset for the first time, aiming to help farmers time sowing with greater precision.
The system will cover about half of India’s 7,200 blocks across 15 states this monsoon season. Historically, IMD issued arrival estimates only at the state or district level. For instance, the monsoon is known to reach Mumbai around June 10 and Delhi around June 29, but rainfall often varies sharply even within a district.
“Even within the same district, several blocks and villages remain rainless despite the monsoon having officially ‘arrived’ at the district borders,” the IMD noted. The new hyperlocal approach seeks to address that gap.
At the core of the system are two forecasting models whose predictions are “blended” to sharpen accuracy. The combined output will generate arrival and rainfall forecasts at the block level, a long-standing goal for the IMD.
Officials said the data will be shared with state agriculture departments and agri-advisory services so farmers can make informed decisions on sowing, irrigation, and crop choice.
