IMD to install rain observatory units across 80 city sites

Mumbai: The IMD has taken 80 sites across the city from MGCM to install the Automatic Rain Gauge System (ARGS), a weather instrument for measuring rainfall and monitoring the rain rate, and specially designed observatory units that will provide additional data including exact temperatures and weather forecasts along with updates on heavy rainfall. These small units will be displayed at railway sites as well, said K.S. Hosal-ikar, deputy director general, western region, IMD, Friday.

IMD officials said that this will help give updates on the monsoon. Sitting at one end of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, it will be possible to check the amount of rainfall being received at the other end.

Mr Hosalikar said, “The BMC network consists of around 80 ARGS sites, while there are around 90 managed by the IMD and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteor-ology (IITM). Some rain gauges also have temperature sensors. This will help predict the exact weather and the amount of rainfall.” He also said, “This will also help the BMC locate the places with rainfall-related problems. There is also a mobile app ‘Mumbai Weather Live’ along with this.”