IMD Gridded Rainfall Data

Overview

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) New High Spatial Resolution Daily Gridded Rainfall dataset provides comprehensive daily rainfall data over the Indian subcontinent with high spatial resolution, covering a period of over 120 years.

Data Specifications

Provider: India Meteorological Department
Frequency: Daily
Data Latency: Approximately 3 days
Geospatial Resolution: 0.25° x 0.25° (approximately 25 km)
Temporal Coverage: 1901 to 2022, with ongoing updates
Data Format: Binary, ASCII
Coverage: Indian subcontinent (135x129 grid points)
Unit of Measurement: millimeter (mm)

Key Features

Longest continuous rainfall record for the Indian subcontinent
High spatial resolution allows for localized weather pattern analysis
Critical dataset for monsoon analysis and agricultural planning
Peer-reviewed and widely accepted in research and commercial applications

Variables Available

Daily rainfall amounts
Derived indices (upon calculation): Seasonal accumulations, dry spell durations, wet day frequencies

Use in Parametric Insurance

This dataset is particularly valuable for:

Agriculture insurance in India
Monsoon-related parametric products
Drought monitoring and index insurance
Regional flood risk assessment
Crop yield prediction models
Multi-decade historical risk assessment