Devotees offer prayers after the Sabarimala temple was opened for the Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season on Monday. PTI
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) began issuing special weather forecasts and reports for pilgrims visiting the Sabarimala temple with the start of the two-month-long annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku at the hill shrine on Monday. The IMD has created three hand-held rainfall gauges and temperature recorders in the region that could be used to verify realized rainfall and temperature in the region.
However, providing an accurate nowcast (weather forecast every three hours) for a small region up to 25 km is a challenge for the weather forecasting agency, as no specific Automatic Weather Station (AWS) has been installed for this purpose only, although data from Laha and Seethathode AWS could be used for forecasting.
During the Amarnath pilgrimage, IMD installed 10 AWS en route to get current weather. There is also one radar station nearby. Every year after the season, the officials dismantle all the equipment and leave it in Srinagar for the avalanche.
Kochi radar
Similarly, if there is a radar station at least 60 km away from Sabarimala, the weather agency could give more accurate forecasts, sources said. Although, according to IMD officials, Sabarimala falls under the Kochi radar, which is an S-band radar with a range of 250 km; radar is used to provide a clear record of locations within a radius of 60 to 150 km. Places below 60 km are in the cone of radar silence and areas above 150 km are out of range, known as radar ambiguity. Hence, the radar station 60 km from Sabarimala is ideal for giving accurate weather forecasts, sources said.
Hand-held rain gauges are used primarily for forecast verification. The IMD has launched a daily forecast for Sabarimala, taking inspiration from the weather forecast for pilgrims issued during the annual Char Dham yatra, Ganga Sagar Mela, Amarnath yatra etc.
Among the 14 districts in Kerala, Pathanamthitta, the district where the hill shrine is located, receives the highest rainfall (629 mm) during the northeast monsoon season, while the state’s long-term average is 492 mm. In 2023, the district received a total of 1,220.2 mm of rainfall, which is about 94% more than average, and in 2024, 714.3 mm of rainfall, which is more than 14% higher.
Published – 17 Nov 2025 20:08 IST
