(January 30, 2025) At just six years old, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra witnessed a devastation that would shape the course of his life. In 1971, a cyclone struck his village in Odisha with relentless force. “There was intense rain and strong winds,” he recalled in an interview with PTI. The cyclone destroyed their crops, leaving his family struggling without rice for a year. That harrowing experience left an indelible mark on him. “That devastation shaped me. I wanted to ensure that no one else would go through what my family did,” the Global Indian remarked.
Today, celebrated as ‘India’s Cyclone Man,’ Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra serves as the Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has marked 150 years of its establishment in 2025. Representing India on the global stage, Dr. Mohapatra was elected Vice President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at the 19th World Meteorological Congress in Geneva in 2023, securing 113 out of 148 votes.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra
This year, the American Meteorological Society honoured him with the Scientific and Technological Activities Commission Outstanding Service Award for his exceptional leadership in advancing tropical cyclone prediction systems. With over 105 peer-reviewed research papers, 18 edited books, and groundbreaking innovations in modelling and forecasting, Dr. Mohapatra has established India’s position as a global leader in meteorology. “We are second to none in early warning systems now,” he asserted, reflecting on the accomplishments of the IMD. Meanwhile, during the recent 150th anniversary celebration, the Indian Prime Minister lauded the IMD’s contributions, stating, “IMD helped build India’s image as a global friend.”
150 years of IMD – serving India and other countries
In 2025, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) proudly celebrates 150 years since its establishment on January 15, 1875, a landmark moment in the history of meteorology in India. Founded to centralise meteorological services, the IMD has grown into a global leader in weather forecasting and climate monitoring. It not only caters to the Indian region but also provides cyclone forecast and warning services to 13 north Indian Ocean countries along with forecast and warning services to SAARC nations.
Over the past century and a half, it has evolved from basic observational techniques to utilising cutting-edge technologies like satellite systems, advanced radar networks, and AI for precise predictions. Through its commitment to innovation, the IMD has saved countless lives, supported agriculture, disaster management, and infrastructure planning, and significantly contributed to the socio-economic development of India and the surrounding region. It is one of the six worldwide Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the Tropical Cyclone Programme of the World Weather Watch of the World Meteorological Organization.
Science beyond cyclones: G20, hockey, cricket and more
While Dr Mohapatra’s primary focus is disaster management, his organisation also provides critical weather data for different events. Highly regarded for its predictions, major national events like the G20 Summit and international hockey tournaments are scheduled after consulting IMD. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to collaborate directly. “BCCI doesn’t approach us, but we still provide forecasts for matches on our own,” Dr Mohapatra said with a smile. Weather, after all, is everyone’s concern, and Dr Mohapatra ensures his team delivers.
At the ceremony of the 150th anniversary of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Prime Minister lauded IMD’s accurate forecast issued for Sonamarg in Kashmir, which led to the smooth inauguration of the Z-Morh tunnel (now named Sonamarg tunnel).
MoU signed at WMOUNHQ for the hosting WMO Regional Training Centre with IMD as coordinator
Under Dr Mohapatra’s leadership, IMD is helping the growth and development of different industries of the country by making them weather ready and climate smart by providing them timely and skilled forecast and warning services. For instance, farmers use Agro-met advisories for weather information-based management like sowing, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide application, and harvest. Similarly, IMD helps other customised industry specific forecasts.
Revolutionizing weather predictions
Dr Mohapatra’s journey to the top of the meteorological world encompasses several milestones in technological innovation and scientific advancement. Starting as a researcher with a Ph.D. in physics, he began improving forecasting techniques and rapidly rose to leadership positions within the IMD. He is credited with spearheading the shift from analogue forecasting to digital systems, integrating automated data collection, satellite-based monitoring, and high-tech communication systems.
“When I started in 2007, our forecast accuracy was about 50 percent less than that of the National Hurricane Centre in the US, and we were limited to 24-hour forecasts. Today, our accuracy is 30 percent better, and we can do weather forecasts up to five days in advance,” he shared proudly. These advancements came through persistent efforts in improving numerical models, implementing multi-model schemes, and embracing technology to benchmark Indian systems against global standards.
One of his major breakthroughs was the accurate forecasting of Cyclone Phailin in 2013, which defied predictions from international agencies. “Even the US forecast went wrong at that time. They thought we were underestimating the cyclone’s intensity, but our forecast proved correct,” Dr Mohapatra recounts. This success marked a turning point, enhancing India’s reputation as a global leader in early warning systems.
AI to revolutionise forecasting
As climate change accelerates, Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is deeply aware of the growing challenges. “Rising temperatures are increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, thunderstorms, and heavy rainfall,” he explained. “While cyclones are decreasing globally, extremely severe cyclones are rising over the Arabian Sea.”
To address these complexities, he is steering IMD towards integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning for hyper-local forecasts. “We’re moving towards village-level predictions and sector-specific warnings for agriculture, health, and urban planning. In the next few years, AI will work hand-in-hand with numerical models to revolutionize forecasting,” he said confidently.
Purpose – Saving lives and reducing economic loss
Dr Mohapatra’s work is not just about forecasting; it’s about building trust, saving lives, and preparing societies for the uncertainties of nature. From a cyclone-struck village to global recognition, Dr Mohapatra’s journey revolves around the transformative power of science and determination. As he leads the charge against the world’s unpredictable weather, one thing is clear: India’s “Cyclone Man” works to save millions of lives.
Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra | Phot Credit: PTI
The impact of Dr Mohapatra’s work extends far beyond India’s borders. His contributions to tropical cyclone prediction have benefitted 13 countries in the Indian Ocean region, reducing fatalities and financial losses significantly. For instance:
- Fatalities during cyclones have dropped to double digits—from 10,000 deaths during the Odisha Super Cyclone in 1999 to almost nil fatalities in Cyclone Biporjoy in 2023.
- Cyclone warning improvements have reduced evacuation areas by 300 km and cut evacuation costs by 60 percent over the past two decades.
- Effective cyclone predictions saved Rs 500 crore for the power sector during Cyclones Phailin and Hudhud.
- Gains to sectors like oil exploration, fisheries, and agriculture amount to hundreds of crores annually.
Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra’s visionary leadership and dedication have not only positioned him as an international icon in meteorology but also elevated the India Meteorological Department to global prominence, embodying India’s commitment to innovation, resilience, and saving lives in the face of nature’s challenges. The Prime Minister’s recent remarks on how IMD helped build India’s image as a global friend sums up Dr Mohapatra’s instrumental role in shaping this remarkable legacy.
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