IIT Bombay alumni launch AI-powered weather platform for Mumbai forecasts

Dr Akshay Sunil (centre, in black checkered shirt along with the team that developed WeatherEx. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mumbaikars will now be able to access and interpret weather and monsoon winds of their own accord, or so is the idea behind ‘WeatherEx' - an AI-powered weather intelligence platform spearheaded by IIT Bombay alumni. While the platform is made to help Mumbaikars access different forecasting modules, and help interpret the weather at different scales, it has also brought in a customised model for Mumbai for the first time.

Early predictions

The researchers state that heavy rain spells of early July were already called out by the platform accurately. "A large part of our platform is to also help with flash flood predictions to help the municipal body prepare well in advance. Often, the weather and rain forecasting bodies raise an alarm only a few hours before heavy showers hit. Now, we hope to work with the BMC to help with prior preparedness as well," said Dr Akshay Sunil, a research alumnus from Powai's IIT and a climate-tech expert heading WeatherEx.

‘Myth-busting'

Dr Akshay Sunil, research alumnus, IIT Bombay, and climate-tech expert heading WeatherEx
‘We are trying to democratise the process so civilians are not fooled by social media and are self-reliant when it comes to understanding weather, especially since it is a huge part of decision-making in their day-to-day lives.'

Pan-India plans

The team has also begun working with farmers to take the app national, while integrating regional languages is a work in progress too. In another attempt to prevent brain drain, the app also looped in several IIT-B and other students already interning at the company, while looking to tie up with municipal bodies to have Mumbai monsoon-ready soon.

Self-reliance

The team hopes Mumbaikars are able to cut through any bureaucracy that delays forecasts and soon gauge the weather by themselves. A strong social media push, where developers make videos, has been a crucial part of this journey. Myth-busting and quashing monsoon rumours are already part of the profile.