Mumbai's Colaba Weather Radar Out for 2 Weeks as City Battles Heavy Rain
Mumbai is currently experiencing heavy rainfall, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red nowcast warning. However, the IMD's S-band Doppler radar at Colaba has been non-functional for nearly two weeks due to a technical malfunction.
The S-band Doppler weather radar is a critical tool for detecting rainfall, thunderstorms, cyclones, wind movements, and other severe weather events over long distances. Its absence hampers accurate real-time weather forecasting and early warnings.
Over the past four days, the city has received substantial rain. On Thursday, the IMD's Santacruz station recorded 205 mm of rainfall, while the Colaba coastal observatory recorded 158 mm until 8:30 am. Areas such as Andheri, Powai, Bhandup, and Wadala recorded over 200 mm of rainfall.
The failure of the Colaba radar adds to the challenges faced by the city during this monsoon season. The IMD has stated that efforts are underway to repair the radar, but no specific timeline has been provided for its restoration.
