India’s New Weather System Warns Faster, Saves Lives

India, with its vast coastline, diverse geography, and monsoon-dependent climate, faces hundreds of extreme weather events every year — from cyclones and floods to heatwaves and droughts. Over 75% of districts are exposed to multiple climate hazards, making disaster preparedness not just important, but essential.

In January 2024, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS) — a landmark digital transformation under Mission Mausam. This system marks a decisive shift from fragmented forecasting to an integrated, automated, and impact-based approach that protects lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

What Makes MHEW-DSS Different?

• Impact-Based Forecasting: Explains how weather will affect people, sectors, and communities.
• Real-Time Alerts: Forecast preparation time cut by 50%, accuracy improved by 30%.
• Wider Reach: Location-specific warnings now cover nearly 80% of India’s population.
• Cost Savings: Evacuation costs reduced to one-third compared to 1999.
• Self-Reliance: Built in-house, saving ₹250 crore and reducing dependence on foreign vendors.

Success Stories

During Cyclone Biparjoy and Cyclone Dana, MHEW-DSS enabled timely evacuations in Gujarat and Odisha — resulting in zero casualties.

Farmers using IMD’s agromet advisories reported 52.5% higher annual income compared to those who did not. If extended across rain-fed districts, the economic benefit could reach ₹13,331 crore annually.

How It Works

• Satellite, radar, and ocean buoy data integration
• GIS-based maps for visualization
• Multi-model forecasting with bias correction
• Colour-coded warnings for easy public understanding

Forecasts are disseminated through SMS, mobile apps (Mausam), WhatsApp, APIs, TV, radio, and official websites, ensuring last-mile connectivity even in rural areas.

National and Global Impact

• National Reach: Over 200 organizations, including NDMA and NITI Aayog, rely on MHEW-DSS.
• Global Role: IMD provides cyclone and severe weather advisories to countries across the North Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific.
• Recognition: Awards include the National Award for e-Governance (2025), UN Sasakawa Award (2025), and ET GovTech Award (2026).

A Weather-Ready India

• Protects coastal communities from cyclones
• Helps farmers plan sowing and irrigation
• Supports renewable energy management
• Strengthens public health during heatwaves
• Saves resources and reduces environmental impact

Key Highlights Table

Feature	Impact
Forecast Accuracy	Improved by 30%
Preparation Time	Reduced by 50%
Population Coverage	80% of India
Evacuation Costs	Down to one-third

In short: India’s MHEW-DSS is not just about predicting the weather. It’s about protecting people, empowering communities, and building a safer future.

World’s First Category 5 Cyclone of 2026 Emerges in Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean has witnessed a dramatic weather event: Tropical Cyclone Horacio has exploded into a Category 5 storm, the most powerful classification for tropical cyclones. With sustained winds exceeding 252 km/h (157 mph), Horacio is now the strongest storm on Earth in 2026.

A Category 5 storm is the highest and most destructive classification on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, defined by sustained winds of 157 mph (252 km/h) or higher. These storms cause catastrophic damage, often rendering affected areas uninhabitable for weeks or months

What Happened

• Horacio intensified at an unprecedented pace, leaping from about 104 km/h to 257 km/h in just 24 hours.
• Its central pressure dropped sharply from 963 mb to 930 mb, a hallmark of explosive strengthening.
• Satellite images reveal a well-defined eye, confirming its Category 5 status.

Where It Is

• The cyclone is currently swirling over the South Indian Ocean, south of Madagascar.
• India is not in its direct path, but meteorologists are tracking its movements closely.
• For now, no immediate landfall threat exists, though nearby island nations could face dangerous seas and weather.

Why It Matters

• First Category 5 cyclone of 2026: Horacio sets the tone for what could be an active storm year.
• Climate connection: Warmer ocean waters, linked to climate change, are believed to be fueling such rapid intensification.
• Global concern: Scientists warn that extreme storms like Horacio may become more frequent as oceans continue to heat up.

The Bigger Picture

Cyclone Horacio is more than just a weather event—it’s a wake-up call. Its explosive growth highlights how climate change is reshaping storm behavior, making them stronger and faster to intensify. While Horacio may stay out at sea, its sheer power underscores the importance of preparedness for coastal nations and continued research into how warming oceans drive extreme weather.

Drowning in Progress: How Climate Change Is Submerging the World’s Cities

In the heart of our cities—where ambition meets architecture and concrete replaces soil—an invisible crisis is rising. Not in decades. Not in years. But now.

From Seoul’s subway stations to the streets of Islamabad, urban flooding has become the most visible and violent symptom of a planet out of balance. Fueled by climate change, rapid urbanization, and outdated infrastructure, cities are no longer’re drowning.

The New Normal: Cities Under Siege

Vehicles drive through a flooded area in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, July 20, 2025. Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, made landfall near Jiangmen City in south China's Guangdong Province around 5:50 pm on Sunday, according to the Guangdong provincial meteorological observatory. Photo: Xinhua

In July 2025 alone, the world witnessed a cascade of urban flood disasters:

• South Korea: Torrential rain at 115 mm/hour overwhelmed drainage systems, killing 18 and displacing over 13,000.
• Pakistan: Monsoon rains intensified by 10–15% due to global warming led to over 300 deaths and $360,000 in livestock losses.
• China: Typhoon Wipha triggered flash floods and landslides, forcing mass evacuations.
• India: Landslides and infrastructure collapse swept through urban centers as monsoon rains battered the region.

These aren’t isolated events—they’re part of a global pattern.

The Data Speaks: Urban Flooding Is Accelerating

A recent study reveals a staggering 94% increase in urban flood extent from 1990 to 2021. The culprits?

• Climate Change: Warmer air holds more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall.
• Urban Sprawl: Concrete jungles reduce natural absorption, turning cities into bathtubs.
• Outdated Infrastructure: Most drainage systems were never designed for this level of rainfall.

Even worse, global flood hazard maps often underestimate urban flood risk due to low-resolution data, leaving millions unprepared.

Climate Change: The Accelerant

According to World Weather Attribution, the monsoon floods in Pakistan were significantly worsened by climate change. Jakob Steiner, a leading climate scientist, warns:

Disasters we expected in 2050 are already happening in 2025.

This isn’t just about water—it’s about time. And we’re running out of it.

Why This Matters

Image - Juan Manuel Sanchez

Urban flooding isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a killer. It:

• Displaces families and destroys homes.
• Disrupts economies and supply chains.
• Spreads disease and contaminates water supplies.
• Deepens inequality, hitting the poorest hardest.

And yet, most cities remain woefully unprepared.

What Needs to Change

To survive the next decade, cities must:

• Upgrade Infrastructure: Build smart drainage systems and flood-resilient architecture.
• Improve Forecasting: Invest in real-time flood alerts and predictive modeling.
• Rethink Urban Design: Integrate green spaces, permeable surfaces, and water-sensitive planning.
• Global Collaboration: Share data, technology, and funding across borders.

Final Thought: The Flood Is a Mirror

Urban floods reflect more than climate—they reflect our choices. Our priorities. Our blind spots.

If cities are humanity’s greatest achievement, then protecting them must be our greatest responsibility.

Because when the streets flood, it’s not just water rising—it’s a warning.

Country	Event	Impact
Pakistan	Monsoon Floods (June–July 2025)	300+ deaths, 1,600 homes damaged, $360K livestock losses
South Korea	Record Rainfall (July 2025)	115 mm/hour rain, 18 deaths, 13,000 displaced
China	Typhoon Wipha (July 2025)	Flash flood alerts, landslides, mass evacuations
India	Monsoon Landslides (July 2025)	Infrastructure collapse, fatalities, widespread damage

Top Image - Dibakar Roy

ONGC Completes Baltal Pilgrim Facility Ahead of Amarnath Yatra; Petroleum Minister Puri to Formally Inaugurate the Mega Facility on Friday

Energy major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) is developing Disaster Management and Yatri Niwas complexes at four key locations in Jammu & Kashmir, viz. Baltal, Nunwan, Bijbehara, and Sidhra, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. These assets will be operated by Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board under the Government of Jammu & Kashmir.

These facilities will provide safe lodging, sanitation, and emergency support to people undertaking Amarnath Yatra. Over five lakh people undertake this Yatra every year. This permanent infrastructure will also benefit the local population throughout the year.

The Baltal Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Complex, spread across 6,315 square metres, is now fully operational and includes a Yatri Niwas, VIP guest house, security infrastructure, and disaster-response facilities. The Baltal facility will be formally inaugurated on 4 July 2025 by Hon'ble Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha, in the presence of ONGC Chairman and CEO Shri Arun Kumar Singh.

Construction is progressing at Nunwan (8,500 sq. m) and Bijbehara (7,640 sq. m), with both sites expected to be completed by September 2025. The Sidhra complex in Jammu, designed to serve as a vital hub for boarding, emergency management, and logistical coordination, is targeted for completion by September 2026.

In 2024, ONGC also constructed permanent 100-bed hospitals at Baltal (Ganderbal) and Chandanwari (Anantnag), in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. These facilities, which include ICUs and staff accommodations, replacing the earlier temporary medical camps and now serve as year-round Primary Health Centres for yatris and local residents alike.

Why the 2013 Uttarakhand Floods Must Be Remembered

Increasing number of disasters in the region  

On June 16, 2013, Uttarakhand witnessed one of the most devastating disasters in its history. Unprecedented rainfall, measuring 385.1mm - over 440% above the normal for the onset of the monsoon - triggered catastrophic floods and landslides. The deluge, intensified by a cloudburst and a glacial lake outburst flood, caused the Chorabari Lake near Kedarnath to overflow, unleashing torrents of water and debris downstream. The disaster claimed over 6,000 lives, stranded more than 100,000 pilgrims and tourists, and obliterated infrastructure across the state.

The immediate response involved massive rescue operations. The Indian Army launched Operation Surya Hope, deploying over 10,000 troops, while the Indian Air Force initiated Operation Rahat, which became one of the largest civilian rescue missions by air, evacuating nearly 20,000 people and delivering essential supplies. Despite these efforts, the scale of the disaster exposed significant shortcomings in preparedness and early warning systems. Although the India Meteorological Department had issued alerts, communication breakdowns and a lack of coordinated action led to delayed evacuations and increased casualties.

A school in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, rebuilt as part of SEEDS’ post-disaster recovery efforts following the 2013 floods. Along with safety-focused infrastructure adapted to the hilly terrain, SEEDS has also conducted mock drills to help students prepare for emergencies.

Amid this chaos, civil society efforts helped plug the gaps. Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), one of the first responders, focused on urgent unmet needs - supporting women’s privacy in overcrowded shelters and helping families who had dry rations but no means to cook them. Over 190 of the most vulnerable families in Rudraprayag received family tents and utensil kits. Makeshift schooling was enabled with temporary tents and cooking provisions for mid-day meals.

Students outside a newly rebuilt school in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Reconstructed by SEEDS in the aftermath of the 2013 floods, the facility is designed to be climate-resilient and safe for children in this high-risk seismic and landslide-prone zone.

With many schools either damaged or reduced to rubble, children’s education was severely disrupted - leaving students without safe spaces to learn or gather. In the months that followed, the organisation went on to rebuild 18 schools across Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts, using earthquake-resilient, lightweight materials that doubled as safe spaces and community hubs. The effort also included disaster preparedness training for over 2,000 students and residents, laying the groundwork for a more informed and resilient response in future emergencies.

While these efforts brought some stability to pockets of the affected region, the broader picture across Uttarakhand was far more sobering. The state’s tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure was shattered. Roads, schools, health centres, and water supply lines had to be rebuilt from scratch. The psychological toll on survivors, especially those who lost entire families, still lingers.

An evacuation plan being installed at Rajkiya Ucchatar Prathmik Vidyalaya, Karokhi, Ganganagar, Rudraprayag - one of the schools reconstructed by SEEDS after the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, with support from Ambuja Cement Foundation.

Long-term effects extended beyond physical loss. For months, communities faced food shortages and lack of healthcare. Livelihoods dependent on tourism took years to recover. Many survivors left the hills entirely, their ancestral homes abandoned. For a while, Kedarnath became a symbol of resilience - but also a grim reminder of the consequences of ignoring environmental limits.

The 2013 tragedy was a national wake-up call. There was a noticeable shift in how disasters were managed - more satellite monitoring, improved coordination between agencies, and the setting up of early warning systems in vulnerable regions. Looking back over the past 12 years, these steps represent meaningful progress. Yet, the increasing frequency of disasters in Uttarakhand signals that long-term, community-based resilience is still a work in progress.

This has become clear through recurring climate-related disasters. In 2021, a glacier broke off in Chamoli, unleashing a sudden surge in the Rishi Ganga river, destroying hydropower projects and claiming over 200 lives. In 2023, Joshimath made headlines for land subsidence - homes cracking open, roads warping, and families being evacuated.

In 2024, heavy rainfall triggered landslides across several regions, including Tingad village in Tehri district, where over 35 homes were destroyed and two schools deemed unsafe. SEEDS, which has been active in Uttarakhand since the 2013 floods, supported efforts to ensure children could continue learning. Working with local communities, they helped set up temporary classrooms on donated land, with basic sanitation and clean drinking water facilities. It was a small but necessary step toward restoring normalcy as families began to rebuild.

In fact, Uttarakhand’s history of disasters goes back decades. In 1970, a cloudburst over the Alaknanda Valley caused massive floods that wiped out villages and altered river courses. In 1998, a landslide in Malpa buried an entire village, killing over 200 people including several pilgrims. In 2012, just a year before Kedarnath, cloudbursts caused flash floods that disrupted the Char Dham Yatra and claimed several lives. Each time, warnings were issued. Each time, the state returned to business as usual once the water receded.

Uttarakhand sits in a seismically active, ecologically fragile zone. Yet, construction continues on precarious slopes, forests make way for highways, and rivers are redirected for energy. Climate change only intensifies these risks - melting glaciers, short spells of heavy rain, and unseasonal heat are now common. Despite clear patterns, these disasters are often labelled ‘low’ or ‘medium’ impact events, downplaying the long-term consequences.

What happened in June 2013 was not an anomaly. It was a warning. And unless we treat it as such - changing how we build, how we prepare, and how we respect the Himalayas - it will not be the last.

Early Warning System for Active Volcanoes: Smallest Movements Detectable with ADC card by Spectrum

Spectrum’s PCIe digitizer card detects smallest movements over a distance of six kilometers

Guatemala in Central America has three constantly active volcanos, all of which have villages near them so it is vitally important to have an early warning system for eruptions to save lives. Such systems already exist but these specific volcanos produce flows of Pyroclastic Density Current (PDC) instead of lava. The extremely dangerous PDC clouds consist of gas, rock and ash, traveling at speeds of up to 600 km/h with a heat of up to 800°C. It is therefore vital to have as much warning as possible for evacuations. A team from University College London (UCL), led by Dr Amin Amiri, is studying the PDCs and developing a radar-based early warning system with a very high level of sensitivity. The core part is a PCIe digitizer card by Spectrum Instrumentation, the model M2p.5921-x4. It is so sensitive that it can detect tiny movements at a distance of six kilometers, which is the distance that the equipment is set up from the slope of the volcano.

Fig. 1: The electronic system is housed in a metal box to prevent it from humidity, rain and wildlife in the jungle

The equipment consists of a X/Ku-band radar system including reflector dishes for transmit and receive. The returning signal is compared to the outgoing signal to produce an Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal containing range and movement information whenever a PDC shows up on the slope of the volcano. The IF signal is digitized by the M2p.5921-x4 Spectrum card with 20 MegaSamples per second and processed using Spectrum’s SBench 6 measurement software.

“We have just returned from setting up the equipment that is monitoring one of the slopes of the Santiaguito Volcano,” explained Dr Amin Amiri. “This is the first research into PDC events to try and understand the mechanisms for this type of volcanic activity.

Fig. 2: Active volcano “Santiaguito”, side volcano of the even bigger “Santa Maria” 

As you never know when it is about to happen, we have a seismic activity detector that turns on the radar system when it detects a tremor. This ensures we only capture relevant data on a PDC event. In this way we also conserve the battery power of the system which is deep in the Guatemalan jungle and charged by solar panels. We will be back in a couple of months to collect the stored data, and to install two more setups that will monitor the other two slopes.”

The original design was specified to work at a distance of four kilometers from the target, but the terrain in the jungle was not suitable so it was set up further back on a high spot of land six kilometers away. The team was concerned that the equipment would not be sensitive enough for this 50% increase in distance and used a drone flying over the jungle treetops to the slope as a moving target to verify that it was working properly.

“Sensitivity is the key to the success of this system as an early warning,” added Dr Amiri. “We tested the Spectrum card and found that it has an incredibly impressive low noise floor of -100 dBm so we could build a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) system that can see all small movements of the volcano that are the first signs of a PDC.”

The biggest challenges encountered by the team were the heat, the humidity and the mosquitos. Not only did they have to protect themselves from them but also all the electronics. A metal box is used to keep out the humidity, the rain and the wildlife but then cooling is a challenge as holes in the box are not possible and the temperature in the jungle exceeds 35°C.

Fig. 3: Setup of the first system at 6100 meters distance from the active volcano slope

Keeping the box in the shade and having a fan inside the box to keep the air circulating were a help. The team is now working on improvements for the next systems, such as large fins on top of the box to radiate heat away or a small solar-powered fridge. “One factor in selecting a card from Spectrum was that it’s specified to work over a large temperature and humidity range. Plus, it has thermal cut-out for protection if the environment becomes too hot,” concluded Dr Amiri. “I’ve used Spectrum cards in other projects, so I know their high standards of manufacture. I can be confident that it will keep on working deep in the jungle so I won’t have to fly half around the world to replace it!"

About Spectrum Instrumentation

Spectrum Instrumentation, founded in 1989, uses a unique modular concept to design and produce a wide range of more than 200 digitizers and generator products as PC-cards (PCIe and PXIe) and stand-alone Ethernet units (LXI). In 30 years, Spectrum has gained customers all around the world, including many A-brand industry-leaders and practically all prestigious universities. The company is headquartered near Hamburg, Germany, known for its 5-year warranty and outstanding support that comes directly from the design engineers. More information about Spectrum can be found at www.spectrum-instrumentation.com

Seasonal Floods in India Lead to $7.5 Bn Loss of Economy in 2020 - Aon Report

Image for Representation Only

"When Natural Disasters and a Pandemic Collide" global annual report explores "connected extremes"

CHICAGO, Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm providing a broad range of risk, retirement and health solutions, today launches its global Weather, Climate & Catastrophe Insight: 2020 Annual Report. The report evaluates the impact of global natural disaster events to identify trends, manage volatility and enhance resilience.

The report reveals that the 416 natural catastrophe events of 2020 resulted in economic losses of USD268 billion – 8% above the average annual losses for this century – as costs continue to rise due to a changing climate, more people moving into hazard-prone areas and an increase in global wealth. Of this total, private sector and government-sponsored insurance programs covered USD97 billion, creating a protection gap of 64%, which is the portion of economic losses not covered by insurance. This highlights the importance of addressing the underserved by ensuring that there is increased access to affordable insurance products in the future.

"The global response to the socioeconomic volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has increased focus on other systemic risks – particularly climate change – and is causing a fundamental reordering of business priorities. This report highlights the increasing likelihood of 'connected extremes' and reinforces that leading organizations of the future will be defined by their ability to manage the global implications of concurrent catastrophic events," said Greg Case, CEO of Aon. "In a highly volatile world, risk remains ever present, is more connected and, as a result, is also more severe – and 2020 has underscored this reality. It has also emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors, which will be essential to close the rising protection gap and build resilience against natural catastrophes."

During the year, more than 8,000 people lost their lives due to natural catastrophes. Tropical cyclone was the costliest peril, causing more than USD78 billion in direct economic damage. It was closely followed by flooding (USD76 billion) and severe convective storm (USD63 billion). From a climate perspective, NOAA cited 2020 as the world's second-warmest since 1880 for land and ocean temperatures at +0.98°C (+1.76°F) above the 20th-century average.

Steve Bowen, Director and Meteorologist for Aon's Impact Forecasting team, commented: "The world continues to evolve as it is faced with new challenges around natural perils. While many private and public sector entities primarily focus on physical and human hazard risks, an increasing number of global regulative bodies are further pivoting towards how to handle emerging transitional and subsequent reputational risks. This is especially true as the financial and humanitarian risks surrounding climate-enhanced events become more evident on a daily basis. Focus at the corporate and federal levels will be critical around investments in risk mitigation, resilience, and sustainability as the landscape around climate change solutions continues to accelerate with renewed urgency.

Significant regional events during 2020 included:

• Costliest year on record for global severe convective storms led by historic U.S. derecho
• U.S. mainland endured a record-breaking 12 named storm landfalls, including six hurricanes
• Super Typhoon Goni struck the Philippines as the strongest landfalling storm ever recorded globally at 195 mph 
• Ciara became Europe's costliest windstorm since Xynthia in 2010
• Drought conditions reduced agricultural crop yields in Brazil and Argentina, burning 30% of the Pantanal Region
• The most widespread Yangtze River Basin floods since 1998 caused USD35 billion of economic damage in China's monsoon season. 

Exhibit 1: Top 10 Global Economic Loss Events1,2
Date(s)	Event	Location	Deaths	Economic Loss (USD billion)	Insured Loss (USD billion)
June - September	Seasonal Floods	China	280	35.0	2.0
August 21 - 29	Hurricane Laura	U.S., Caribbean	68	18.2	10.0
May 15 - 21	Cyclone Amphan	South Asia	133	15.0	0.5
August 8 - 12	SCS (incl. Midwest Derecho)	United States	4	12.6	8.3
July 3 - 15	Kyushu Floods	Japan	82	8.5	2.0
November 2 - 13	Hurricane Eta	Caribbean, U.S.	309	8.3	0.7
June - September	Seasonal Floods	India	1,922	7.5	0.8
September 14 - 18	Hurricane Sally	United States	0	7.0	3.5
March 22	Zagreb Earthquake	Croatia	2	6.1	0.1
July 30 - August 5	Hurricane Isaias	U.S., Caribbean, Canada	18	5.0	2.7
All other events	145 billion	66 billion
TOTAL	268 billion	97 billion
1	Subject to change as loss estimates are further developed
2	Includes losses sustained by private insurers and government-sponsored programs

The full report and a short film are available on Aon's interactive microsite at https://aon.io/3nsM7cu. To access current and historical natural catastrophe data, as well as event analysis, please visit catastropheinsight.aon.com.