Archive · 18 Jan 2026
US Plans to Dismantle NCAR Threaten India's Weather Forecasting
The US government is planning to close a place called NCAR that helps predict the weather.
India uses some of NCAR's tools to warn people about floods and storms.
If NCAR closes, India might not get as good warnings, which could put lives at risk.
Last year, these warnings helped when floods happened in Punjab and Delhi.
Without them, it might be harder to prepare and stay safe.
The Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
NCAR's Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) is used by India for weather forecasting.
India's weather warnings, like those for the 2023 Punjab and Delhi floods, rely on NCAR's models.
Dismantling NCAR could reduce the accuracy of India's weather predictions.
This could put Indian lives at risk by limiting the time available to prepare for natural disasters.
- Who
- India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
- What
- Potential dismantling of NCAR threatens India's weather forecasting capabilities
- When
- Announced by the Trump administration (no specific date mentioned)
- Where
- NCAR is based in Boulder, Colorado, USA; impacts would be felt in India
- Why
- NCAR's Community Atmosphere Model (CAM) is used by IMD for weather predictions
- Organization at Risk
- National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
- Potential Impact
- Reduced accuracy in India's weather forecasts
- Current Use
- CAM model used by India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- Developed By
- NCAR in Boulder, Colorado
- Recent Event
- Floods in Punjab and Delhi in August 2023
- Affected Areas
- 1,400 villages in 13+ districts
- Warning Time
- Several days in advance