Expect better weather forecasting this year as Karnataka all set to get its first Doppler radar

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The city of Bengaluru will get a C-band Doppler Weather Radar this year to enable better weather forecasting, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje has said.

The Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment took to X to share that India Meteorological Department (IMD) has agreed to her request to install the Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) in the state capital.

Posting a letter written to her by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Jitendra Singh, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Karandlaje said, "We will now be able to predict our weather with accuracy. Following my request, the IMD has greenlit the installation of a Doppler radar in the city, scheduled to be operational by year-end. This is a major step towards better weather forecasting & preparedness for natural disasters."

In his letter, Jitendra Singh said the radar will have an operational range of 250 km and will be installed in Bengaluru this year. He also mentioned that the site for the radar installation has already been identified and the Centre had informed the state government to acquire the site.

"The proposed C-band DWR in Bengaluru will not only help in protecting the state infrastructure and state economies during natural disasters but also significantly enhance the accuracy of weather forecasts and provide the early warning of severe weather conditions," he wrote.