The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has changed the languages and also redefined many of its terms to make the interface more audience friendly and fill the communication with civil administration. An official notification has been issued by the India Meteorological Department which lists out some new terms and redefined others, thus, doing away with the outdated language. The changes have been made in order to understand the upcoming weather events and reports of the department more appropriately.
Major changes introduced by the department
- Normal: ± 10 percent of the long period average (lpa).
- Below normal: Rainfall lower than 10 percent below average of the lpa.
- Above normal: Rainfall greater than 10 percent above average of the lpa.
- Deficient year: Rainfall deficit between 10 and 20 percent up to 40 percent of India’s spatial area.
- Large deficient year: Rainfall deficit of over 10 percent across more than 40 percent of India’s area.
IMD’s new standardised key terms
- Heat wave: Temperatures greater than 4.5 Degrees Celsius above usual temperatures for the region.
- Severe heat wave: Temperatures greater than or equal to 47 Degrees Celsius.
- Cold wave: Temperatures less than 4.5 Degrees Celsius below usual temperatures for the region.
- Severe cold wave: Minimum temperature is 2 Degrees Celsius or lower.
India Meteorological Department
- IMD is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
- It is the principal agency in the country responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.
- Headquartered in New Delhi, the IMD operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica.
