Indian Meteorological Department

Fishermen Warning : The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm ‘Mekunu’ over southwest and adjoining westcentral Arabian Sea moved northwards with a speed of 9 Kmph during past 06 hours and lay centered at 1730 hrs IST of 23 rd May 2018 over Westcentral and adjoining Southwest Arabian Sea near latitude 12.0 0N and longitude 55.9 0E, about 220 km east-southeast of Socotra Islands and 590 km southsoutheast of Salalah (Oman). It is very likely to intensify further during next 24 hours. It is very likely to move nearly northwards during next 24 hours and then north-northwestwards and cross south Oman - southeast Yemen coasts as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm with wind speed of 150-160 kmph gusting to 180 kmph between 53 0E and 55 0E close to Salalah, around 26th May, 2018 morning.

As the system is expected to move away from Indian coast, no adverse weather is expected along & off west coast of India and Lakshadweep.

Wind Warning: Gale winds speed reaching 125-135 Kmph gusting to 150 Kmph is prevailing over southwest and adjoining West Central Arabian Sea. The wind speed will gradually increase over West Central Arabian Sea off south Oman- south east Yemen coasts with the increase in intensity of the system during 23 rd to 26th May. The maximum wind speed of 150-160 Kmph gusting to 180 Kmph likely to commence over West Central Arabian Sea from 25th morning.

Sea condition is phenomenal over West Central and adjoining southwest Arabian Sea and will continue to be phenomenal over Westcentral Arabian Sea till 26th morning and will improve gradually thereafter. The sea condition over southwest Arabian Sea will remain phenomenal till 25th morning and improve gradually thereafter.

Fishermen Warning: Fishermen are advised not to venture into southwest Arabian Sea till 24 th May and into west-central Arabian Sea during 23rd -26th May.

NOWCAST: NIL

Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

Meteorological Centre, Trivandrum

METEOROLOGICAL CENTRE, Thiruvananthapuram caters to the meteorological requirements of Kerala state and Lakshadweep Islands by supervising and coordinating the weather services in the state. Weather forecast (both aviation and non-aviation) for optimum operation of weather sensitive activities like agriculture, irrigation, aviation etc. and warnings against severe weather phenomena (over the state and nearby sea area) like heavy rains, thunderstorm, strong winds etc., which cause destruction to life and property are rendered by this centre under the technical advice of Area Cyclone Warning Centre of Regional Meteorological Centre at Chennai. Necessary Meteorological services for air navigation, towards the safety of aircraft operation in the state, is provided by Airport Meteorological Office - the Aviation section of this office.

The Challenging task of Weather forecasting is done effectively by taking meteorological observations (both at surface and in upper air) through about 16 observatories and about 79 raingauge stations all over the state and Lakshadweep Islands. 10 Surface observatories are maintained by IMD and the Part-time observatories and raingauge stations are located in the premises of State Government Offices, Railways and other organisations. The raingauge stations are maintained under District-wise Rainfall Monitoring Scheme (DRMS). Accuracy of meteorological observations is ensured by periodical inspection of observatories and raingauge stations by this Centre. Calibration of all instruments at observatories are checked at least once in two years. 15 automatic weather stations in Kerala and one in Lakshadweep Islands. 30 automatic raingauge stations in Kerala. The transmission of hourly data to HQ is carried out automatically through INSAT are also maintained by this office.

8 synoptic surface observations at 3 hourly interval starting from 00 UTC and 2 upper air observations (00 & 12 hrs UTC) using hydrogen filled balloon bound radiosonde/ GPS sonde with meteorological sensors and 2 pilot balloon observations at 06 & 18 hrs. UTC are taken by this office. Continuous watch over weather events is effected through different self recording surface met. instruments. The observational data of the above stations is collected and transmitted along with the observations taken at this office immediately at each synoptic hour, to our HQ at New Delhi through different modes of communication. HQ re-transmits the data pertaining to India and neighbouring countries to individual observatories. Based on these data, plotting of surface and upper air charts are done. Issue of daily weather forecast and severe weather warnings are done on the basis of the analysed weather charts and satellite imagery.

Agromet Advisory Unit is regularly issuing Agromet Advisory Bulletins twice a week for the benefit of the farming community in the state. Weather forecast, warnings and agromet bulletin are broadcast through AIR and Doordarshan.

Continuous monitoring of earthquake is done by state of the art instruments. Continuous monitoring of surface ozone, measurement of solar & terrestrial radiation and recording of atmospheric electricity form some routine activities of this office. Vertical distribution of atmospheric ozone is measured fortnightly by Ozonesonde ascents.

Climatology section undertake the scrutiny and archival of meteorological data and use such data over a number of years for answering various weather related enquiries from different users for research and planning purposes.

IMD Trivandrum

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