The India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched its public-facing Cyclone Warning and Marine Weather Services Decision Support System on 12 October 2026. The launch took place during the IMD’s pre-cyclone exercise meeting for the October–December 2026 post-monsoon season.
Platform and services
The interactive platform uses WebGIS, a web-based geographic information system for displaying data on digital maps. It brings together cyclone tracks, forecast intensity, wind information, rainfall warnings and storm surge information on a map. A storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level caused mainly by a cyclone’s winds and atmospheric pressure. The DSS also provides rainfall forecasts for river catchments and district-level rainfall warnings. Its features include a “cone of uncertainty”, which presents the forecast area within which a cyclone’s track is expected to remain. The platform is available through the IMD and Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) New Delhi websites.
IMD and cyclone forecasting
The IMD is India’s national meteorological service and operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Its functions include weather forecasting, cyclone warnings and meteorological services for aviation, shipping and agriculture. RSMC New Delhi provides tropical cyclone advisories for the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. The DSS is intended for use by the public, coastal communities, disaster-management authorities and maritime users. It presents forecast information relevant to hazards such as strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge. Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology at IMD, chaired the pre-cyclone meeting.
Pre-cyclone preparedness
Around 230 participants from more than 30 organisations attended the meeting, including representatives of the National Disaster Management Authority and National Disaster Response Force. A training workshop on familiarisation with cyclone warning and marine weather services took place on 9 October 2026. More than 650 stakeholders, disaster managers and media representatives attended the workshop, where the DSS was demonstrated. The IMD’s pre-cyclone exercise meeting covered preparedness for the post-monsoon cyclone season. The platform consolidates forecast and warning information in a map-based interface for users in coastal and maritime settings.
Important Facts for Exams
- The India Meteorological Department was established in 1875.
- The IMD functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- The north Indian Ocean basin includes the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- Tropical cyclones in the north Indian Ocean commonly occur during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods.
The post-monsoon cyclone season in the north Indian Ocean generally spans October to December. The IMD’s cyclone and marine weather services include forecasts and warnings for coastal and maritime hazards.
