Accurate prediction of the cloud burst is a challenging task, not only in India but the world over, Minister of Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal said.
"This is mainly attributed to small size, short duration and sudden development characteristic of the event and also due to the complexity of the associated atmospheric process which prevails in tropical regions like India," Sibal added.
He said the IMD has been constantly attempting to increase the accuracy of prediction of the events like cloud burst by employing high resolution computer based weather prediction models, known as meso-scale models.
The modernisation programme that includes "deployment of advanced observing equipment and state-of-the-art prediction systems is underway which is expected to enhance the capacity of the department to be able to predict the weather systems including the cloudburst phenomenon with reasonable accuracy," Sibal said in a written reply.
The minister also said the scientists are sent abroad to study weather forecast system of the country and it has benefited the nation.
"Major benefits accrued so far include usage of doppler weather radar observations in Nowcasting (weather forecasting 3-6 hours in advance) and implementation of the auto-visualisation, analysis, interpretation, integration of forecast and observational products at national and regional meteorological centre's of IMD," he said.
Other benefits include implementation of the advanced aviation data visualisation and forecast tools in metro cities in the country, Global Forecast System for forecast up to 7 days, Regional Weather Forecast System for forecast up to 3 days, Meso-scale Weather Forecast System for forecast up to 48 hours and Nowcasting 3-6 hours in advance for Delhi NCR, he said.