Nagpur tops Maharashtra’s hailstorm risk index, finds IMD’s 30-year analysis 

A survey conducted by scientists from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has revealed that Nagpur is the astir hailstorm-prone territory successful Maharashtra, with the highest vulnerability and hazard illustration successful the State. The study, titled, ‘Hailstorm Climatology implicit Maharashtra with Associated Impacts and Risk Assessment’ published connected September 19, 2025, spans 3 decades from 1991 to 2020. It was authored by Shambu Ravindren and Sushma Nair of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai, and Soma Sen Roy of IMD Headquarters, New Delhi. 

The researchers undertook a broad district-wise investigation of hailstorm occurrences, their intensity, and the resulting harm crossed Maharashtra. They recovered that of the 142 hailstorm days recorded during the survey period, 58% were classified arsenic dense and 42% arsenic moderate. Interestingly, portion dense hailstorms dominated the aboriginal years, mean hailstorms person go much predominant successful caller years. February emerged arsenic the astir progressive period for hailstorm activity, followed by March and April. 

The survey besides revealed a chiseled diurnal signifier successful hailstorm occurrences. Nearly 40% of hailstorms were recorded betwixt 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., with different 20% occurring betwixt 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. This timing coincides with the play erstwhile farmers and livestock are typically outdoors, expanding the hazard of accidental deaths and injuries. The median duration of hailstorms was recovered to beryllium 10 minutes, though immoderate events lasted up to an hour, posing extended threats to beingness and property. 

Using the Intergovernmental Panel connected Climate Change (IPCC) 2014 framework, the researchers calculated a Normalized Vulnerability Index (NVI) and Risk Score for each district, factoring successful vulnerability indicators specified arsenic cultivation country and colonisation density.  

IMD scientist, Sushma Nair said, “Nagpur was the lone territory classified nether the “Very High Risk” category. The authors noted that contempt some Nagpur and Nashik being categorised arsenic highly susceptible districts, their hazard profiles disagree significantly.” 

She explained that Nagpur’s precocious sensitivity, driven by socio-economic factors specified arsenic semipermanent impacts and a important beneath poorness enactment (BPL) population, coupled with constricted adaptive capacity, places it astatine the apical of the hazard scale. Nashik, connected the different hand, benefits from minimal exposure, which mitigates its wide hazard and places it successful the “Low Risk” category. 

The survey besides identified a statistically important rising inclination successful hailstorm occurrences successful a contiguous loop crossed Marathwada—specifically successful the districts of Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, and Nanded, and successful South Madhya (Central) Maharashtra, including Satara and Sangli. IMD idiosyncratic Shambu Ravindren said, “These findings are important for catastrophe preparedness and assets allocation, particularly successful regions wherever hailstorm enactment is intensifying.”

In presumption of damage, the cultivation assemblage was recovered to beryllium the astir affected, accounting for 50.9% of full reported losses. Structural harm contributed 13.3%, portion quality fatalities and injuries unneurotic made up 15.5%. Livestock deaths and injuries accounted for 6.4%, vertebrate deaths for 3.2%, and different disruptions — including uprooted trees, damaged electrical poles, and interruptions to indispensable services — comprised 10.9% of the full damage. 

While dense hailstorms were liable for the bulk of fatalities and structural damage, mean hailstorms were astir arsenic damaging to agriculture and infrastructure, particularly erstwhile they occurred frequently. The authors caution that mean hailstorms cannot beryllium overlooked, arsenic their persistence and wide interaction tin pb to important losses. In fact, the twelvemonth 2020, which recorded 16 hailstorm days, saw the highest full harm astatine 12.03%, with mean hailstorms contributing much to the harm than dense ones. 

The survey besides highlighted determination disparities successful harm patterns. Akola, for instance, reported higher cumulative harm than Nagpur contempt having less hailstorm days, underscoring the relation of colonisation density and wealthiness successful shaping interaction outcomes. Similarly, districts similar Nashik and Pune, which experienced comparatively predominant hailstorms, reported little full harm compared to districts successful Vidarbha, pointing to the power of socio-economic and infrastructural factors. 

The authors emphasise the request for region-specific catastrophe preparedness strategies, including aboriginal informing systems, harvest security schemes, infrastructure resilience, and livelihood diversification. Ms. Nair said, “A multi-pronged attack to catastrophe absorption is indispensable to safeguard livelihoods and physique resilience successful hailstorm-prone regions of Maharashtra. This survey demonstrates the broader societal interaction of hailstorms and the value of integrating vulnerability, exposure, and hazard information to pass argumentation and planning.”