Beyond the Headline: How India’s New Wind Profilers Will Reshape Weather Forecasting 

India’s IMD is strategically deploying 10 advanced wind profilers across key locations like Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, and Thiruvananthapuram to revolutionize its weather forecasting. Part of the ambitious ₹2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’, these radars will provide unprecedented real-time, vertical wind data from ground level to high altitudes every 15 minutes – filling a critical observation gap. This continuous 3D atmospheric mapping will dramatically sharpen short-term “nowcasting,” enabling life-saving warnings for sudden storms, heavy rain, and fog just 60-90 minutes ahead.

Crucially, the profilers will enhance aviation safety by detecting hazardous wind shear and turbulence, while also providing vital data to improve complex monsoon predictions and long-term climate monitoring. Valued at over ₹6 crore and adhering to ‘Make in India’ priorities, the systems must be operational within 18 months, marking a significant leap towards building national resilience against intensifying extreme weather.

Beyond the Headline: How India’s New Wind Profilers Will Reshape Weather Forecasting 

India’s quest for sharper, life-saving weather predictions just took a significant leap forward. As part of the ambitious Rs 2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has initiated a crucial step: floating global tenders for 10 advanced wind profiler systems. 

This isn’t just another equipment purchase; it’s a strategic upgrade designed to plug critical gaps in understanding the atmosphere above India. 

The Core Details: 

• What’s Being Procured: 10 state-of-the-art wind profiler radar systems. 

• Strategic Locations: Spanning diverse geography – Amritsar, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, Mohanbari (Assam), Bhubaneswar, Calicut, and Thiruvananthapuram. 

• Investment: Tender valued at over Rs 6 crore. 

• Timeline: Delivery, installation, and commissioning required within 18 months of contract signing. 

• Policy Alignment: Adherence to ‘Make in India’ principles, with preference for Indian suppliers, MSMEs, and startups, though open to global bids. 

Why Wind Profilers Matter (The Real Insight): 

Think of wind profilers as specialized radars pointing straight up. Unlike traditional weather radars that scan horizontally for rain, these systems provide a continuous, high-resolution vertical profile of wind speed and direction from ground level up to several kilometers. This is data traditional methods struggle to capture consistently. 

The Transformative Impact: 

• Unlocking the Third Dimension: Current models rely heavily on surface data and intermittent balloon launches (radiosondes). Wind profilers provide real-time, high-frequency vertical wind data every 15 minutes, filling a massive observational void. This is crucial because winds at different altitudes drive weather systems, monsoon patterns, and storm development. 

• Sharper Short-Term Forecasts (Nowcasting): As IMD DG Dr. Mrityunjay Mohapatra emphasized, this technology is key to improving “nowcasts.” Expect more accurate and location-specific warnings for sudden heavy rain, thunderstorms, dust storms, and even fog – potentially issued just 60-90 minutes in advance instead of 3 hours. This saves lives and property. 

• Revolutionizing Aviation Safety: Vertical wind shear (sudden changes in wind speed/direction with height) is a major cause of turbulence, a significant aviation hazard. Profilers provide critical real-time data for pilots and air traffic control, enabling safer flight paths and better turbulence prediction. 

• Boosting Monsoon Modeling: Understanding the intricate vertical structure of winds is paramount for predicting monsoon onset, intensity, and break periods. Profilers offer unprecedented detail to feed into models, potentially leading to more reliable seasonal forecasts. 

• Climate Monitoring Foundation: Consistent, long-term vertical wind profiles are vital data for understanding climate patterns and changes over the Indian subcontinent, contributing to better climate risk assessment. 

“Mission Mausam”: The Bigger Picture 

These 10 profilers are a cornerstone of the larger Rs 2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ launched in September 2024. The mission aims to make India “weather ready” and “climate smart” in the face of escalating extreme weather events. Alongside the profilers, it includes: 

• Adding radiometers at 15 locations. 

• Increasing the network of radiosondes (weather balloons) beyond the current 54 stations. 

• Dramatically improving forecast model resolution (moving from 12km grids to potentially much finer scales). 

The Takeaway: 

The IMD’s tender for wind profilers is far more than a procurement notice. It represents a fundamental shift towards data-driven, precision meteorology in India. By continuously “seeing” the wind in three dimensions across key locations, these systems promise not just incremental improvements, but a potential leap forward in forecast accuracy – particularly for high-impact, short-term weather events that directly impact millions of lives, agriculture, transportation, and the economy daily. The 18-month implementation clock is now ticking towards a more weather-resilient India. 

India’s quest for sharper, life-saving weather predictions just took a significant leap forward. As part of the ambitious Rs 2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has initiated a crucial step: floating global tenders for 10 advanced wind profiler systems. 

This isn’t just another equipment purchase; it’s a strategic upgrade designed to plug critical gaps in understanding the atmosphere above India. 

The Core Details: 

• What’s Being Procured: 10 state-of-the-art wind profiler radar systems. 

• Strategic Locations: Spanning diverse geography – Amritsar, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, Mohanbari (Assam), Bhubaneswar, Calicut, and Thiruvananthapuram. 

• Investment: Tender valued at over Rs 6 crore. 

• Timeline: Delivery, installation, and commissioning required within 18 months of contract signing. 

• Policy Alignment: Adherence to ‘Make in India’ principles, with preference for Indian suppliers, MSMEs, and startups, though open to global bids. 

Why Wind Profilers Matter (The Real Insight): 

Think of wind profilers as specialized radars pointing straight up. Unlike traditional weather radars that scan horizontally for rain, these systems provide a continuous, high-resolution vertical profile of wind speed and direction from ground level up to several kilometers. This is data traditional methods struggle to capture consistently. 

The Transformative Impact: 

• Unlocking the Third Dimension: Current models rely heavily on surface data and intermittent balloon launches (radiosondes). Wind profilers provide real-time, high-frequency vertical wind data every 15 minutes, filling a massive observational void. This is crucial because winds at different altitudes drive weather systems, monsoon patterns, and storm development. 

• Sharper Short-Term Forecasts (Nowcasting): As IMD DG Dr. Mrityunjay Mohapatra emphasized, this technology is key to improving “nowcasts.” Expect more accurate and location-specific warnings for sudden heavy rain, thunderstorms, dust storms, and even fog – potentially issued just 60-90 minutes in advance instead of 3 hours. This saves lives and property. 

• Revolutionizing Aviation Safety: Vertical wind shear (sudden changes in wind speed/direction with height) is a major cause of turbulence, a significant aviation hazard. Profilers provide critical real-time data for pilots and air traffic control, enabling safer flight paths and better turbulence prediction. 

• Boosting Monsoon Modeling: Understanding the intricate vertical structure of winds is paramount for predicting monsoon onset, intensity, and break periods. Profilers offer unprecedented detail to feed into models, potentially leading to more reliable seasonal forecasts. 

• Climate Monitoring Foundation: Consistent, long-term vertical wind profiles are vital data for understanding climate patterns and changes over the Indian subcontinent, contributing to better climate risk assessment. 

“Mission Mausam”: The Bigger Picture 

These 10 profilers are a cornerstone of the larger Rs 2,000-crore ‘Mission Mausam’ launched in September 2024. The mission aims to make India “weather ready” and “climate smart” in the face of escalating extreme weather events. Alongside the profilers, it includes: 

• Adding radiometers at 15 locations. 

• Increasing the network of radiosondes (weather balloons) beyond the current 54 stations. 

• Dramatically improving forecast model resolution (moving from 12km grids to potentially much finer scales). 

The Takeaway: 

The IMD’s tender for wind profilers is far more than a procurement notice. It represents a fundamental shift towards data-driven, precision meteorology in India. By continuously “seeing” the wind in three dimensions across key locations, these systems promise not just incremental improvements, but a potential leap forward in forecast accuracy – particularly for high-impact, short-term weather events that directly impact millions of lives, agriculture, transportation, and the economy daily. The 18-month implementation clock is now ticking towards a more weather-resilient India.