For the first time, India will receive block-level monsoon forecasts across 15 States and one Union Territory, covering nearly 3,200 administrative blocks. The move signals a transition from broad regional forecasting to hyper-local weather intelligence powered by AI, machine learning, and high-resolution meteorological modelling.

Why Block-Level Forecasting Matters

Until now, monsoon forecasts in India were generally issued at the State or district level. While these forecasts helped governments and agencies prepare broadly, they often failed to capture the uneven and patchy nature of rainfall distribution. In many districts, rainfall can vary dramatically between blocks and villages. A district may officially receive monsoon rains, while several villages remain dry for days. For farmers, such variations are critical. Decisions regarding sowing, irrigation, fertilizer application, and crop protection depend heavily on timely rainfall.

The new forecasting system addresses this long-standing gap by offering highly localized predictions. Farmers will now be able to receive forecasts tailored to their specific block rather than relying on district-wide estimates. This precision is expected to reduce uncertainty in agricultural planning and improve crop management practices.

The Technology Behind the New System

The forecasting system combines AI-based analysis with traditional physics-driven weather models. The framework integrates meteorological data collected by the IMD, global climate and weather prediction models, machine learning techniques, AI-based forecasting tools, and Real-time observational data from weather stations. The system generates probabilistic forecasts for up to four weeks in advance, enabling better medium-range planning. The integration of multiple forecasting approaches aims to improve both accuracy and reliability. Traditionally, forecasting relied primarily on numerical weather prediction models based on atmospheric physics. AI now enables the system to identify hidden patterns, anomalies, and localized weather behaviours from massive datasets much faster than conventional systems alone.

Focus on Monsoon-Sensitive Regions

The new system currently covers 15 States and one Union Territory located largely within India’s “monsoon core zone.” These are regions where agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and highly dependent on the southwest monsoon.

The selection is strategic. In these regions, inaccurate rainfall forecasts can directly affect crop productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods. By improving forecast precision, the IMD hopes to minimize crop losses and strengthen agricultural resilience.

AI and the Future of Weather Forecasting

The IMD’s initiative reflects a global trend where AI is increasingly being integrated into climate and weather sciences. Around the world, meteorological agencies are experimenting with AI models that can process enormous climate datasets, improve prediction speed, and enhance forecast precision.

In India, this transition is especially significant because of the country’s heavy dependence on the monsoon economy. Agriculture still supports a large rural population, and rainfall variability directly impacts inflation, food production, energy generation, and water availability. AI-enabled forecasting can potentially improve crop planning, reservoir management, flood preparedness, insurance risk assessment, climate adaptation strategies and rural advisory services. The use of AI also aligns with India’s broader push toward digital governance and technology-driven public service delivery.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its promise, the system will face important challenges during its initial implementation. Meteorologists have already warned that the 2026 monsoon season may experience “below normal” rainfall conditions due to the development of an El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean. Weak and irregular monsoons are generally harder to predict accurately than stable rainfall systems. Therefore, the upcoming monsoon season will effectively serve as a real-world test for the AI-based forecasting framework. Another challenge involves data infrastructure. Hyper-local forecasting requires dense observational networks and continuous real-time data collection. Many regions in India still lack sufficient weather monitoring infrastructure. Expanding the system nationwide will require substantial investments in meteorological technology, data integration, and computational resources. There is also a growing need to ensure that forecasts are translated into accessible local advisories. Technology alone cannot guarantee impact unless farmers, local administrations, and disaster management agencies can effectively use the information provided.

The launch of AI-enabled block-level monsoon forecasting marks a significant milestone in India’s meteorological and technological journey. By combining artificial intelligence with traditional weather science, the IMD is moving toward a more precise, localized, and actionable forecasting system. This development has the potential to reshape agricultural planning, disaster management, and climate resilience across India. At a time when climate uncertainty is increasing, hyper-local forecasting could become one of the most important tools for protecting livelihoods and improving preparedness.

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Bangalore, 27 January, 2025: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and InMobi’s 1Weather, a global leading weather app, have formed a unique strategic partnership to deliver national weather warnings and alerts to millions of Indians on their Glance-enabled smartphone lock screens.

The Letter of Agreement (LoA) between IMD and InMobi will enable 235 million Indian smartphone users to stay informed about critical weather conditions instantly, without having to unlock their phones. This distinctive experience will not only help citizens stay safe and prepared but also facilitate swift action at scale during emergency situations.

IMD employs advanced numerical weather prediction models to analyze and forecast critical weather conditions, continually enhancing this capability. Long-term and large-scale weather alerts for events such as cyclones, low-pressure systems, and depressions can be predicted 3 to 5 days in advance, allowing people to prepare and minimize potential loss of life or property. Additionally, hyper localised alerts provide timely warnings for short-term events such as localised heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, hailstorms, or dusty winds which may last only for a few hours. The distribution of these alerts will now be accessible directly on smartphone lock screens, enabling wider reach and quicker dissemination of critical information with the help of 1Weather and Glance.

Glance is an AI-driven platform that delivers diverse, personalized, relevant, and serendipitous experiences directly to the lock screens of Android smartphones, allowing the users to access content without unlocking their phones, searching or downloading multiple apps. This makes it an essential platform for timely content such as weather alerts, enabling people to notice and act instantly. Additionally, localisation plays an integral part of this communication as Glance can adapt alerts to suit the location and visual preferences of users across different regions, ensuring the information is accessible and easily understood by people throughout the country.

Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD said, “IMD is continuously enhancing its capabilities to improve weather and climate services. As we celebrate the 150-year milestone, we are further committed to innovating to build a better climate future for India. With the use of smart AI and strategic partnerships such as InMobi and 1Weather, we are optimistic of achieving newer and quicker ways of sharing life-saving weather alerts.”

Srikanth Subramanian, Vice President and General Manager of 1Weather, said, “At 1Weather, we believe that this first of its kind collaboration, between 1Weather and IMD, will alert users ahead of time on severe weather right on their Android lock screens, and help them prepare better, saving precious lives in the process. We truly believe in helping people own their day with actionable weather insights. After success in the USA, we are hoping to reshape the climate story in India too and make a larger difference to society at large.” 

The weather alerts feature represents Glance’s commitment to social responsibility through its Glance for Good program. This initiative uses Glance’s AI-powered platform and vast reach to leverage its platform for social impact, which includes initiatives in public safety, disaster preparedness, and community well-being.

“Weather affects everyone, from daily commuters to farmers. Through Glance for Good, we’re democratizing access to critical weather data and ensuring it reaches those who need it most,” added Bikash Chowdhury, Chief Marketing Officer at InMobi and Glance. “Our mission is to use technology not just for information and experiences, but as a force for social good.”

These live updates will be available soon on the Glance lock screen and later through the 1Weather app, which is available on the Google Play Store, across all major Android smartphone brands in India. 1Weather is one of the top 5 weather apps in the USA and LATAM regions.

The post India Meteorological Department and 1Weather bring weather alerts to 235 million Indians on their Glance Lock Screen appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.