The Hindu Business Line : Exclusive national weather portal launched

Key features
It will provide general and zone-wise weather bulletins with an exclusive page for severe weather events
Weekly agro-advisories will be provided for different agro-climatic zones with specific guidance on farm operations keeping in view the impending weather for the week
The interactive facility will be augmented with exclusive chat room sessions (discussion forum) with experts on chosen topics of interest

Thiruvananthapuram , April 20

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has set up an exclusive national weather portal that aims not just to inform, but also issue alerts and tutor the uninitiated on weather and related topics.

The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, launched the portal, www.indiaweatherwatch.org, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The technical content loaded on the portal will be based on forecasts given by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), two major operational agencies under the DST.

Climatological information and research products of the Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology, Pune, will also be made use of, says Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Director, NCMRWF. The portal has been designed and hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in a public-private partnership venture.

One-stop dispenser

The portal is positioned as a one-stop weather information dispenser for the general public with interactive features. In addition to the current weather forecasts, it will provide general and zone-wise weather bulletins with an exclusive page for severe weather events.

Weekly agro-advisories will be provided for different agro-climatic zones with specific guidance on farm operations keeping in view the impending weather for the week.

Real-time weather information pertaining to 200 locations and five-day forecasts for about 20 cities spread across the country will also be made available. This information will be specially highlighted with respect to the metros and major cities. Links have been provided to other national and international institutions for further information.

The interactive facility will be augmented with exclusive chat room sessions (discussion forum) with experts on chosen topics of interest. An FAQ session is also provided, which will be updated and consolidated dynamically over time. A glossary sections breaks down weather and related terminology into digestible language.

Judging from the queries that have started flowing in, the portal seems to have hit it off well with weather watchers across the globe, Dr Gupta said.

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