Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS)
Context:
India's diverse geography, long coastline, and monsoon-dependent climate make it highly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as cyclones, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and landslides.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), floods affect nearly 40 million hectares of land, and heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent.
With over 75% of India's districts exposed to multiple climate hazards, the government has implemented the MHEW-DSS to fundamentally transform disaster risk reduction.
Basics and Objectives:
The MHEW-DSS is an advanced digital forecasting platform developed by the IMD using open-source technology and in-house expertise.
Introduced as a landmark digital transformation initiative under Mission Mausam, the system strengthens India’s real-time weather monitoring and early warning capabilities.
It enables a complete paradigm shift from traditional, fragmented weather tracking to a highly integrated, automated forecasting model.
It operates within a single digital framework.
The primary objective of the system is to convert raw weather and climate information into timely, preventive action through structured, multi-agency dissemination.
The system is designed to provide location-specific, impact-based warnings rather than general weather updates.
Currently, these targeted alerts successfully reach nearly 80% of the population across India and its neighbouring regions.
Salient Features and Outcomes:
Enhanced Speed and Precision:
By utilizing real-time forecasting mechanisms, the MHEW-DSS has drastically reduced forecast preparation time by 50% while simultaneously improving overall forecast accuracy by 30%.
Evacuation Efficiency:
A major, quantifiable achievement of the MHEW-DSS is the massive reduction in evacuation costs, which have fallen to just one-third between 1999 and 2024.
This economic efficiency is directly linked to a significant reduction in cyclone landfall point forecast errors in the IMD's crucial 3-5 days ahead forecasts.
Multi-Sectoral Preparedness:
Beyond immediate disaster response, the system comprehensively strengthens long-term preparedness across vital sectors, including environment, energy, public health, agriculture, and governance, positioning India as a global leader in multi-hazard early warning technologies.