ISLAMABAD, May 22 (ABC): Pakistan is expanding and modernising its weather radar network to bring almost the entire country under radar coverage. The move aims to strengthen weather forecasting, improve disaster preparedness and provide timely warnings for severe weather events.
Modern radar network to improve weather forecasting
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, a spokesman for the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the department is adopting modern radar technology to monitor floods, thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and sea storms. The upgraded system will help forecasters issue early alerts and reduce risks to lives and property.
The PMD currently operates advanced radar systems in Islamabad, Karachi, Mardan and Sialkot. A new weather radar is also being installed in Multan with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The spokesman said that after the completion of ongoing projects, almost all major regions of Pakistan would fall under radar coverage. He added that the expansion would improve numerical weather prediction models and strengthen the country’s disaster response system.
Radar systems provide real-time weather data
The PMD spokesman explained that the department has already established 13-storey radar towers at its headquarters in Islamabad and Karachi with Japanese assistance. The S-band solid-state radar systems installed at these sites can monitor weather activity within a range of around 450 kilometres.
According to the department, these radar systems provide real-time information on rainfall intensity, cloud development, wind speed, wind direction and storm movement.
He said the weather radar network updates data every 10 minutes. This allows weather experts to closely monitor changing weather patterns and issue regular alerts.
“A radar acts as a nowcasting tool,” he said, adding that radar technology plays an important role in flood forecasting, rainfall estimation and runoff monitoring in dams and river catchments.
Different radar systems serve different purposes
The spokesman said Pakistan’s weather radar network includes S-band, C-band and X-band systems. Each radar type serves a specific purpose depending on geography and weather conditions.
The Islamabad and Karachi S-band radars can cover areas up to 450 kilometres. The X-band radar in Mardan covers around 120 kilometres and mainly supports weather monitoring in valleys and mountainous regions.
He said the C-band radar in Sialkot covers nearly 350 kilometres and plays a vital role in tracking monsoon systems entering from Indian catchment areas.
The Karachi weather radar also performs a key function by monitoring weather activity over the Arabian Sea and tracking tropical storm systems.
Radar expansion strengthening disaster preparedness
The spokesman noted that Pakistan previously had only five weather radar systems, many of which had become outdated. He said the old Islamabad radar had completed its 30-year operational life and was replaced with an advanced Japanese-supported system.
He said traditional rain gauges cannot provide large-scale real-time weather information. Modern radar systems, however, can instantly monitor weather developments across hundreds of kilometres.
The spokesman added that radar data is also shared with airports and aviation authorities. PMD teams monitor weather conditions around the clock and provide pilots with real-time updates on hazardous weather conditions.
He said the Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore also uses radar information to monitor catchment areas and issue flood alerts.
The PMD spokesman expressed confidence that after the completion of the Multan project and future expansion plans, Pakistan’s weather forecasting system would become more accurate and effective in dealing with climate-related threats.
