Our 50th episode marks not just a milestone, but the beginning of a new wave of conversations—diving deeper into the science, technology, and progress shaping our future.

In this special edition, Skymet CTO Vivek Singh is joined by Dr. Kenji Takeda, Director of Research Incubation at Microsoft Research, to explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming weather and climate forecasting.

At the center of this discussion is Aurora, Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI model. Aurora can do what traditional forecasting systems struggle with—running multiple tasks simultaneously. From rapid weather predictions and storm/cyclone warnings to air quality monitoring and climate change analysis, Aurora brings both speed and unmatched accuracy, especially for extreme weather events.

Dr. Takeda explains how Aurora reduces reliance on supercomputers, democratizing weather forecasting and putting advanced insights into the hands of researchers, policymakers, and communities worldwide.

Join us as we celebrate 50 episodes and step into this next chapter—where AI bridges science and society, helping us prepare for disasters, adapt to climate change, and understand our environment in ways never possible before.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses the current status of Monsoon 2025 and what to expect over the next 12–13 days. This year’s season has seen above-normal rainfall overall — 9% higher in June, 5% higher in July–August, and nearly 15–16% above normal in September. However, deficits remain in Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and the Northeast, while southern India also recorded comparatively less rainfall. Monsoon withdrawal began from Rajasthan on September 14 and will soon cover Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. This episode also explores rainfall trends in Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, the Northeast, and southern India, and explains why 2025 is being called one of the most unusual monsoons of the past 50–60 years. Plus, insights on when the Northeast Monsoon is expected to arrive.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains the current status of Monsoon 2025’s onset and withdrawal. While pan-India rainfall has been near normal this year, predicting the exact date of withdrawal remains tricky due to subjective conditions such as moisture decline, satellite imagery, anticyclones, and circulation patterns. Official withdrawal begins from western Rajasthan and often stretches from late September into October. According to Skymet, revisions in withdrawal dates are likely this year too. The episode also discusses the latest rainfall situation and forecasts for Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and the Konkan-Goa region. Will the monsoon follow its normal withdrawal pattern this time, or will climate change and global warming play a bigger role? Tune in to find out.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast (EP-47), AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, discusses the unusual progress of Monsoon 2025 and what lies ahead. June, July, and August have all recorded above-normal rainfall, with the country achieving 102% of the Long Period Average (LPA) — a rare situation last witnessed in 2007. Although the beginning of August was relatively weak, the second half brought heavy rains that pushed the national average to 5% above normal. Looking ahead, September is likely to deliver good rainfall in the first half, followed by a decline in the latter part of the month. Mumbai has already faced extreme weather with over 200 mm of rainfall in a short span, while Gujarat, South Rajasthan, and North Maharashtra are expected to see more heavy downpours. However, deficiencies remain in East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and across Northeast India, where Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh are still facing a 30–40% shortfall, despite slight improvements in Bihar and Rayalaseema. Tune in to find out when the monsoon is likely to withdraw and how different regions may be impacted in the weeks to come.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains how global oceanic factors are influencing the progress of Monsoon 2025. The Niño 3.4 index over the Pacific is currently at -0.4, pointing towards a developing La Niña phase which is considered favorable for the Indian monsoon. On the other hand, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is highly negative at -1.2—the lowest since August 2022—which may suppress rainfall, as a positive IOD usually supports monsoon activity. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) stands at +0.6, indicating neutral conditions. So far, up to 26th August, the country has received 104% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall, reflecting an above-normal season. Northwest India (including Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi-NCR) and Central India (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh) have experienced good rains, while Bihar and parts of Northeast India recorded a shortfall earlier, though conditions have improved in recent days. Tune in to understand how September’s rains may unfold and what role El Niño, La Niña, and IOD will play in steering the rest of the season.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President of Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, breaks down the current status and future outlook of Monsoon 2025. With two-thirds of the season now complete, rainfall has been above average, reaching 102% of the Long Period Average (LPA). While states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have seen heavy showers, northeastern India (Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim, East UP, Bihar) continues to face a rainfall deficit. The episode also explains how the recent “break in monsoon” shifted weather patterns, and what September withdrawal, along with global factors like ENSO and IOD, could mean for farmers and urban regions alike.

In this special episode of Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma (President, Meteorology & Climate Change, Skymet) discusses the revival of the 2025 Southwest Monsoon, which has turned active after a prolonged break. The “Break in Monsoon” that began in late July caused significant rainfall deficiency across central and western India, with a nationwide deficit of 31% at the start of August. Now, a new low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is set to bring heavy to very heavy rains over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan-Goa, South Gujarat, and Saurashtra in the next 7–8 days. Rainfall in Rajasthan and Gujarat has normalized after earlier surpluses, while the Northeast still faces a 39% deficit. For farmers, the upcoming showers in central India bring relief after a long dry spell, though some crops have already been affected.

In this week’s Skymet Podcast, AVM (Retd.) G.P. Sharma, President – Meteorology & Climate Change at Skymet, explains that Monsoon 2025 has now entered a “break phase” and highlights its impact across different regions of India.

This episode delves deep into weakening monsoon activities, declining rainfall, and the weather forecast for the coming week. We also address the recent devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi, which caused severe destruction in vulnerable areas like Dharali and Harsil.

The fragile geography of the hills, unchecked tourism, and rising population are intensifying the impact of such natural disasters. The discussion extends to how climate change and human interference are aggravating their severity.

From reduced rainfall in Karnataka to shifting weather patterns in Northeast India, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of the changing monsoon across the country. It also emphasizes the urgent need for responsible tourism and greater climate awareness.