Discuss the meaning of colour-coded weather warnings for cyclone prone areas given by India Meteorological Department. (UPSC 2022)

India Meteorological Department (IMD) uses colour-coded weather warnings to give simple, graded alerts for cyclone-prone areas. They help people and administration understand the likely severity, time of impact and required response.

• Green: No warning. Normal conditions are expected and routine activities can continue.
• Yellow: Watch. Cyclonic weather may develop; people and officials should stay updated and begin basic preparedness.
• Orange: Alert. Severe weather is likely; fishing, transport and vulnerable activities should be restricted, and evacuation planning should start.
• Red: Warning. Very severe weather is expected with high risk to life and property; immediate action, including evacuation, should be taken.

IMD issues these warnings in a phased cyclone system: watch, alert, warning and post-landfall outlook. They are now increasingly impact-based, linking the forecast with likely damage and response needs.

Thus, colour codes make forecasts easy to understand, ensure timely action, and improve last-mile warning delivery, helping reduce cyclone deaths and losses.