📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, us
Weather
Gopalpur Weather Radar Malfunction Sparks Concern Amid Odisha Cyclone Alert
✍️ Kanak News Odisha
🗓 18 Sep 2026, 06:02 AM
👁 10
A technical fault in the Gopalpur weather radar has been reported as Odisha braces for a cyclone, prompting officials to question the reliability of early warning systems.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed on Tuesday that the Doppler weather radar installed at Gopalpur on the coast of Odisha is experiencing a technical malfunction. Engineers detected irregular data feeds and a loss of real‑time imaging, forcing the system to be taken offline for immediate diagnostics.
The radar outage comes as the state is under a cyclone watch, with IMD issuing alerts for a low‑pressure system expected to make landfall within the next 48 hours. Coastal districts rely heavily on the Gopalpur radar for tracking storm intensity, rainfall patterns and issuing timely warnings to vulnerable communities.
State officials have ordered a rapid assessment of the radar's hardware and software components, and have deployed backup satellite‑based monitoring tools to fill the gap. The IMD has also promised to release an investigative report on the cause of the failure and to upgrade maintenance protocols for all coastal radars.
Meteorologists warned that while the radar issue may limit precise local forecasts, broader satellite data will continue to inform the cyclone warning network. Residents in the threatened districts have been advised to stay alert, follow official advisories and prepare for possible heavy rain and strong winds.
The radar outage comes as the state is under a cyclone watch, with IMD issuing alerts for a low‑pressure system expected to make landfall within the next 48 hours. Coastal districts rely heavily on the Gopalpur radar for tracking storm intensity, rainfall patterns and issuing timely warnings to vulnerable communities.
State officials have ordered a rapid assessment of the radar's hardware and software components, and have deployed backup satellite‑based monitoring tools to fill the gap. The IMD has also promised to release an investigative report on the cause of the failure and to upgrade maintenance protocols for all coastal radars.
Meteorologists warned that while the radar issue may limit precise local forecasts, broader satellite data will continue to inform the cyclone warning network. Residents in the threatened districts have been advised to stay alert, follow official advisories and prepare for possible heavy rain and strong winds.