IMD to install 200 automatic weather stations across four metros in 2026

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh on Thursday announced a major expansion of India’s urban weather observation network, with the India Meteorological Department set to install 200 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across four major metropolitan cities in 2026. Addressing the 151st Foundation Day celebrations of IMD on New Delhi, Singh said that 50 AWS each will be deployed in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Pune to enable hyper-local, real-time weather forecasting and strengthen disaster preparedness in densely populated urban areas. He said the dense network would generate high-resolution data critical for predicting sudden cloudbursts, thunderstorms, heatwaves and rapid pressure changes, improving public safety and aiding sectors such as agriculture, aviation and urban planning.
Highlighting the transformation in India’s weather forecasting capabilities over the past decade, the minister said forecast accuracy has improved by more than 40–50 per cent, while cyclone track prediction accuracy has risen by nearly 35–40 per cent. Errors in monthly and seasonal forecasts, he added, have been reduced significantly from around 7.5 per cent to nearly 2.5 per cent, reflecting sustained investment in technology, institutional reforms and scientific capacity. During the event, Singh inaugurated several new facilities at the IMD campus, including a Model Observatory, a 3D-printed Automatic Weather Station and an Agro-Automatic Weather Station, showcasing India’s push for indigenously developed and cost-effective meteorological technologies.

Also inaugurated a latest all -inclusive “3-D printed Automatic Weather Station (AWS)” on the 151st Foundation Day of the India Meteorological Department #IMD at Mausam Bhawan, NewDelhi.

The new AWS represents a next-generation, cost-effective weather monitoring system that… pic.twitter.com/YT4aKT1QMh

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 15, 2026

IMD has emerged as a regional leader, providing disaster-related weather information and satellite-based support to neighbouring countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, strengthening South Asian cooperation in disaster management.