[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Climate Change and Weather Forecasting issues in UP

1. Climate Change in Uttar Pradesh: Trends & Issues

Trend: Shift from “General Warming” to “Micro-Climatic Changes” and “Extreme Weather Events” (EWEs).

A. Observed Climatic Shifts

• Warming Trend:
  • Heatwaves: Increasing frequency in Bundelkhand (Jhansi/Banda) and Western UP (Agra/Mathura).
  • Winter Warming: Rising minimum temperatures in Jan-Feb affecting Rabi crops (Wheat grain shriveling).
• Precipitation Variability:
  • Erratic Monsoon: Shift from “Uniform Rainfall” to “Short Intense Spells” (causing urban floods in Lucknow/Varanasi) and long dry spells.
  • East-West Divide: Eastern UP (Purvanchal) facing recurrent floods (Rapti/Saryu), while Western UP faces declining groundwater recharge.

B. Sectoral Impact

• Agriculture:
  • Yield Loss: Projected 10-15% decline in wheat yield by 2030 due to terminal heat stress.
  • Cropping Pattern: Farmers in Central UP shifting from Mentha (water-intensive) to Maize due to delayed monsoons.
• Health:
  • Vector-Borne Diseases: Dengue/Malaria spreading to new areas due to humid warmth.
  • Heat Stress: Rising cases of heatstroke in construction workers and farmers.

2. Weather Forecasting Issues in UP

Trend: “Hyper-local Forecasting” and “Last Mile Connectivity.”

A. Infrastructural Gaps

• Observation Network:
  • Density: Lack of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at the Nyaya Panchayat level leading to “Blank Spots.”
  • Radars: Insufficient Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) coverage for the entire state (critical for predicting Kal-Baisakhi storms).
• Technology:
  • Nowcasting: Limited accuracy in predicting localized events like lightning (major killer in Mirzapur/Sonbhadra) 3-4 hours in advance.

B. Dissemination Challenges

• Digital Divide: Small farmers unable to access apps like Meghdoot or Damini due to lack of smartphones/internet in remote areas.
• Language Barrier: Technical jargon in forecasts often misunderstood by rural communities.

3. Policy & Institutional Framework (Solutions)

Trend: “Decentralized Forecasting” and “Climate Resilience.”

A. Recent Initiatives

• WINDS Program (Weather Information Network Data System):
  • Launch: UP Agriculture Department initiated this mega-project in late 2024/2025.
  • Target: Installing 308 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) at Block level and 55,570 Rain Gauges at Gram Panchayat level.
  • Goal: To generate “Hyper-local” weather data for accurate Fasal Bima (Crop Insurance) claims.
• Mission Mausam (Central Linkage):
  • UP is a beneficiary of this 2024-launched mission, receiving funds for upgrading radars in Lucknow and new installations in Western UP.

B. UP State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC – Revised)

• Alignment: Revised to align with India’s “Panchamrit” (Net Zero) goals.
• Focus Areas:
  • Climate Smart Agriculture: Promotion of heat-tolerant wheat varieties (DBW-187).
  • Urban Resilience: “Cool Roof” policies mandated in the State Capital Region (SCR) to combat Urban Heat Islands.

C. Technological Interventions

• Damini App: Aggressive promotion in 2024-25 to warn citizens of lightning strikes 30-40 mins in advance (using GPS location).
• Prahari App: Used for flood forecasting and monitoring river levels in the Terai belt.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Flood of August 2025: The rapid flooding in the Ganga-Yamuna belt (breaking 2013 records) highlighted the need for better “Trans-boundary River Forecasting” coordination with Uttarakhand and Nepal.
• Digital Crop Survey: In 2025, UP linked weather station data directly with the “Digital Crop Survey” portal to automate drought declaration, reducing the time for relief disbursement from months to weeks.