A significant transformation in meteorology is on the horizon as Dr. M. Ravichandran, secretary of the Earth Sciences Ministry, emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modernizing weather forecasting during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. He stated that traditional physics-based models must be complemented with AI to effectively address the increasing unpredictabilities associated with climate change. This merging of traditional and new methods aims to enhance the accuracy of weather predictions, particularly in the face of climate extremes.

During a panel discussion focused on utilizing AI to handle climate extremes and create sustainable systems, Dr. Ravichandran pointed out the limitations of older models, which were adept at predicting weather patterns over vast regions. He stressed that current weather phenomena reflect small local changes and temporal fluctuations that necessitate the employment of AI technologies for precise understanding and prediction. This shift is particularly vital as existing models often fail to account for localized climatic variations that could lead to significant environmental changes.

To illustrate the challenges scientists face today, Dr. Ravichandran offered an engaging analogy, likening the need for advanced forecasting to tracking an 'elephant'—representative of large-scale weather systems—and also recognizing the need to pay attention to the 'ant' sitting on it, which symbolizes the minute, local variations driven by climate change. He highlighted the dual necessity of comprehending both the broad spatial movements and the subtle, localized temporal changes to develop effective predictive models for the future of meteorology.