IMD moved govt for land for installation of 6 high wind speed recorders

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has requested the Odisha govt to allot land for installation of six additional High Wind Speed Recorders (HWSRs) in the state’s coastal belt. The proposed installations are aimed at capturing extreme wind speeds, particularly during cyclones, and improving the accuracy of cyclone-related observations, said IMD Bhubaneswar director Manorama Mohanty.Once the new instruments are installed, Odisha will have a total of 12 HWSRs across six coastal districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Balasore. The expanded network is expected to strengthen real-time monitoring during severe weather events and provide more reliable ground data from cyclone-hit areas.Mohanty said the recorders will generate precise wind-speed data that can be used to validate forecasts and support scientific analysis. Such measurements are crucial when cyclones make landfall, as wind intensity can vary sharply across short distances. The data will also contribute to research and post-event assessment, helping agencies understand storm behaviour and refine future warning systems.She said HWSRs are designed to withstand super cyclone conditions, including wind speeds exceeding 221 kmph. IMD’s focus is on placing these devices near the coast to ensure they capture peak winds during landfall and coastal impact. Mohanty also highlighted existing forecasting infrastructure in Odisha, including Doppler weather radars at Gopalpur and Paradip.IMD continues to strengthen observation capacity through upgrades and new installations. Odisha currently has 39 manned surface observatories, 29 automatic weather stations, 136 automated rain gauge stations, and current weather observation systems at four airports, said a recent reply of Union earth sciences minister Jitendra Singh at Lok Sabha.IMD Bhubaneswar also operates a flood meteorological office round the clock along with a cyclone warning centre. Under Mission Mausam, additional Doppler radars are planned for Sambalpur and Balasore, with new radars also proposed for Bhubaneswar and Puri, said the reply.