Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (UPSC CSE Mains 2022 - General Studies Paper 1)
IMD has its own colour coding system for warning and information regarding cyclones. The colour codes are used by the department to signify the intensity of the situation and the warning associated with it. These warnings are mainly a part of the preparedness program for handling a natural disaster like a cyclone. The main objective of the colour codes is to alert people of hazardous weather conditions which have the potential to damage properties and lives.
Colour-coded weather warning
- These are issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for explaining the severity of the weather phenomena which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.
- These alerts are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall. Warnings are updated daily.
- The IMD uses 4 colour codes:
- Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.
- Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, disrupting day-to-day activities.
- Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
- Red (Take Action): When extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risks to life, the red alert is issued.
These alerts are universal and are not used exclusively for cyclones but for a range of natural calamities including floods, heavy rainfall, snowstorms and other dangerous weather events.
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