Orange alert issued for Kedarnath yatra: What do these alerts mean?
India’s geographical topography is dotted with innumerable temples and pilgrimage sites. One of the most popular among them is the Kedarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Garhwal Himalayan range in Uttarakhand houses this temple. On account of heavy rains and snowfall on 23rd May, the yatra to Kedarnath had to be halted and devotees were told to return to their hotels. On May 6, the Kedarnath Temple was opened for pilgrims. India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country’s weather agency has, in fact, issued an orange weather alert for Kedarnath. Let us find out all about the different kinds of weather alerts and the reasons behind issuing them.
Why did the IMD issue an orange alert for Kedarnath yatra?
According to media sources, the yatra to Kedarnath was suspended by the Uttarakhand Police on Monday after the India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert owing to heavy rain in the state. By 8:30 AM on May 23rd, Uttarakhand had received 10.7 mm of rain for as long as 24 hours. In the meantime, the IMD issued a warning for thunderstorms and severe winds of 70 to 80 km/h in Uttarakhand on May 24th and 25th. Hence, the district administration halted the pilgrimage to the Kedarnath shrine.
According to media reports, about 10,000 pilgrims are currently awaiting the trip to resume. Only those who had arrived in Kedarnath and planned to stay the night were taken to the shrine before being turned back.
So, how much rain is expected during an orange alert? So, an orange alert means significant rains of 6 to 20 cm are likely in the given region.
What is a weather alert?
Well, a weather alert is a notice issued by a meteorological authority to advise citizens of impending hazardous weather. These alerts are usually issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in case of heavy rains, thunderstorms, floods, snowfall, etc. that might be expected around an area over a certain period of time.
What are the different types of weather alert?
There are four different kinds of weather alerts: Green, yellow, orange, red. Here is what you need to know about these colour-coded weather forecasts. A brief description about each of them is given below:
- Green Alert: This indicates that there is no severity is expected in weather. So, there is no need to take any action.
- Yellow Alert: It indicates severely bad weather which can continue for days, getting worse with time and impacting day-to-day life. In case of a yellow alert, administrators are instructed to 'Watch' and 'Be Updated'.
- Orange Alert: It denotes extremely bad weather which may disrupt transport and power supply. Orange alert is a call for authorities to 'Be Prepared'.
- Red: This alert is issued when weather is predicted to be extremely bad which will not only disrupt travel and power supply but also pose a significant threat to life. It is a call to 'Action' for authorities.
How is the colour forecast chosen?
According to the IMD, a specific matrix is used to determine the colour to be assigned to a certain weather scenario under a 5-day prediction scheme “giving thrust on the probability of occurrence of the event as well as its impact assessment". However, the evaluation of the colour code for "impact-based warning" involves meteorological, hydrological, geophysical, and other aspects that may interact with each other to determine the impact and risk.