WMO Says AI-Powered Nowcasting Is a Game Changer for Weather Prediction & Warning Lead Times
SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
Institutions: India Meteorological Department | Ministry of Earth Sciences | Ministry of Home Affairs
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has highlighted advances in AI-powered nowcasting, which can deliver ultra-short-term weather forecasts (0–2 hours) with finer precision using machine learning, radar, satellite, and sensor data fusion.
Unlike traditional models that update every 6–12 hours, nowcasting systems can continuously update forecasts in real time, improving detection of abrupt phenomena like showers, hailstorms, lightning, and flash floods.
WMO emphasises that integrating AI nowcasting into national weather systems can lengthen effective lead times for warnings, reduce false alarms, and enhance urban/rural resilience to extreme rainfall.
For India, where seasonal monsoon variabilities, floods, and urban storms are frequent, adopting AI-enabled nowcasting could significantly improve early warning systems, local disaster management, and climate adaptation strategies. It supports goals under National Disaster Management Plans, Weather-Resilient Infrastructure, and smart city storm water responses. IMD could integrate AI nowcasting into district-level alert systems and coordinate with state disaster response agencies.
What is Nowcasting? → Nowcasting refers to very short-range weather prediction (0 to 2 hours ahead), using high-frequency observations and real-time algorithms to anticipate imminent weather events. It matters because timely local warnings save lives and reduce disaster losses in fast-developing weather events.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India’s Meteorological Department, disaster relief authorities, and state governments scale AI-powered nowcasting systems - including infrastructure, data pipelines, and alert dissemination - so that alerts reach vulnerable populations in real time?
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AI-Powered Nowcasting: Game Changer for Weather Prediction & Early Warnings — WMO