The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has addressed concerns over the recent extreme temperature readings from various Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) across the country. A weather station in Nagpur, Maharashtra, reported a temperature of 56 degrees Celsius, while another in Delhi's Mungeshpur recorded 52.9 degrees Celsius. The IMD clarified that the readings from Nagpur were incorrect and not officially declared.
In a statement, the IMD explained that on May 30th, the Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) Ramdaspeth AWS in Nagpur City reported a maximum temperature of 54.4 degrees Celsius, and another station in Nagpur recorded 52.2 degrees Celsius. These figures were erroneous due to the failure of electronic sensors, as confirmed by IMD Pune.
The IMD noted that other AWS and observatory stations in Nagpur reported temperatures in the range of 44-45 degrees Celsius on the same day. The nearby functioning AWS at the Central Institute of Cotton Research in Nagpur recorded a maximum temperature of 44.0 degrees Celsius on May 30, 2024.
The IMD highlighted that automatic systems might occasionally produce inaccurate readings due to various factors, including site conditions, sensor damage, or protection shield issues. However, IMD staff are trained to identify such anomalies by comparing them with other meteorological parameters. Outlier data are also filtered during the pre-processing stage to ensure accuracy.
The IMD is still investigating the AWS in Mungeshpur, which reported a maximum temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius. The deployment of over 800 AWS across the country aims to enhance weather observation accuracy, but the department acknowledges that occasional errors can occur and are being addressed.
