Cyclone Amphan: India Meteorological Department Earns UN Weather Arm’s Praise For Accurate Prediction

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has drawn plaudits from the United Nation’s weather arm World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) for its accurate prediction of Cyclone Amphan.

The cyclone, which intensified into a super cyclonic storm, made landfall in West Bengal on 20 May causing extensive damage of life and property. About 100 people are feared to have been dead by the impact of the cyclone.

In a letter addressed to IMD Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra, WMO Secretary-General E Manaenkova said the cyclone advisories were provided to the WMO and, in particular, Bangladesh which was also affected by the storm, according to Times Now website carrying a PTI report.

The letter was sent by WMO to IMD on 2 June. The IMD is in charge of the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre for Tropical Cyclones over the North Indian Ocean.

Through the Centre, the IMD provides cyclone-related information to all the related countries in the North Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal.

“The accurate prediction of the genesis, track, intensity, landfall point and time as well as associated weather like storm surge, rainfall and wind by IMD/RSMC New Delhi with a lead period of more than three days has immensely helped in their early response and actions”, WMO said in the letter said.

The IMD services will now be showcased as an exemplary lesson and best practices in tropical cyclone forecasting and warning services.

The WMO shared these advisories with its regional offices in Singapore, Bahrain, and coordination hub besides its Geneva headquarters.

Manaenkova shared the information from the bulletins to communicate with the UN secretary-general on Amphan to be used in the daily briefings at New York.