The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that it now issues district-level impact-based forecasts (IBFs) for heatwaves twice a day. The warning system matters because it does not only predict heat conditions; it also communicates expected impacts and suggested actions for mitigation.
The government says this system is being used with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, Heat Action Plans, and multi-channel dissemination to disaster managers, government departments, the media, and the public.
What changed now
The stated emphasis is on moving from general weather forecasting to operational, district-level heat-risk communication. The IMD has also developed the Hazard and Vulnerability Atlas of India, which provides district-wise vulnerability assessment for heatwave hazards.
According to the IMD, the Atlas covers all districts in the country, and Barmer district in Rajasthan is placed in the High Vulnerability category on the Atlas scale.
How the warnings are disseminated
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