3 weeks ago

IMD Fixes Delhi Rain Data Error, Explains How Rainfall Measured

IMD Fixes Delhi Rain Data Error, Explains How Rainfall Measured
IMD Gets Delhi Rain Data Wrong, Later Fixes It: How Does It Actually Measure Rainfall? · news18.com

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is a weather agency that measures how much rain falls.

IMD uses tools called rain gauges, which collect rainwater and measure its depth in millimetres.

Some gauges are read by people, while others send data automatically by computer.

Delhi has several rain-measuring stations, including Safdarjung, Palam, and Lodhi Road.

Recently, IMD said Delhi had received more rain in August than normal.

Then IMD said that number was wrong and fixed it.

After the fix, Delhi had received less rain than expected for August.

IMD counts a day's rain from 8:30 in the morning until 8:30 the next morning.

Measuring rain that already fell is different from forecasting rain that might fall.

That is why the agency can correct old numbers even while issuing new weather alerts.

Key facts

Initial reported figure
234.5mm
Corrected cumulative figure
197.2mm
August long-period average
233.1mm
Shortfall after correction
About 36mm
Rainfall reporting window
24 hours ending 8:30am
Delhi monitoring stations
Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar
Weather alert issued
Orange alert for light/moderate rain with heavy showers in some pockets
Safdarjung reading by 5:30pm
4mm

Sources

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