Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan launched a mobile application which will provide city-wise weather forecasts, nowcasts and other warnings.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) and ministry of earth sciences have  taken various initiatives recently for improvement in dissemination of weather forecast and warning services based on latest tools and technology. Last month the ministry launched an integrated flood warning system (IFLOWS) for Mumbai. 

What are the highlights of the Mausam app?

It is designed to communicate the weather information and forecasts in a lucid manner without technical jargons. 

The app offers five services: 

1) Current weather: Current temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction for 200 cities updated eight times a day. Information on sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset are also given.

2) Nowcast: Three hourly warnings of localised weather phenomena and their intensity issued for about 800 stations, and districts of India by State Meteorological Centres of IMD. In case of severe weather, its impact also is included in the warning.

3) City forecast: Past 24 hours and seven day forecast of weather conditions around 450 cities in India.

4) Warnings: Alerts issued twice a day for all districts for the next five days in colour code (Red, Orange and Yellow) to warn citizens of approaching dangerous weather. The colour code Red is the most severe category urging authorities to take action. Orange code prompts authorities and public to be alert and Yellow code prompts authorities and public to keep themselves updated.

5) Radar products: Latest station wise radar products updated every 10 minutes. 

Mausam app has been designed and developed jointly by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth team, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and the IMD.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store