Archive · 23 Jul 2025
WiFEX Completes Decade of Research on Winter Fog in India
Scientists have been studying winter fog in North India for ten years through the WiFEX project.
Their goal is to better predict when and where fog will happen, especially at airports.
They created a model that is very accurate at predicting dense fog.
This helps airlines by reducing flight delays and cancellations.
The project is expanding to more airports to provide better, safer travel during the winter fog season, and the Armed Forces are interested in the technology as well.
WiFEX, a 10-year fog research project, aims to improve winter fog prediction for airports.
The project, led by IITM, has developed a high-resolution fog prediction model with over 85% accuracy.
WiFEX-II will expand to more airports in North India, including Noida, Jaipur, and Varanasi.
The project provides operational benefits to airlines, reducing diversions, delays, and false alarms.
The Indian Armed Forces also seek similar fog prediction solutions for forward locations.
- Who
- Led by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), with support from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).
- What
- WiFEX, a fog research project, aims to improve winter fog prediction for aviation and other uses.
- When
- WiFEX began in 2015 and the next phase, WiFEX-II, is launching in November.
- Where
- Focusing on North India, with expansion to include airports such as Noida, Jaipur, and Varanasi.
- Why
- To generate high-quality observational data and develop a reliable fog prediction model for safer and more efficient air travel.
Airlines
Passengers
Aviation safety and efficiency
Airlines
The WiFEX project will reduce flight diversions and cancellations.
Passengers
The WiFEX project will reduce flight diversions and cancellations.
- Project Name
- WiFEX (Winter Fog Experiment)
- Start Year
- 2015
- Lead Institution
- Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)
- Primary Goal
- To improve winter fog prediction accuracy
- Prediction Model Accuracy (dense fog)
- Over 85%
- Key Airports involved
- Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Jewar Airport, Noida, Jaipur, Varanasi