IITM Marks 10 Years of WiFEX, Transforming Winter Fog Forecasting in India
Pune, 30th June 2025: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has celebrated a decade of the Winter Fog Experiment (WiFEX). This pioneering scientific initiative has significantly advanced understanding of dense winter fog over the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
Launched in 2015, WiFEX has evolved into a flagship program integrating high-resolution ground observations, advanced atmospheric modeling, and enhanced fog prediction systems. Over the past decade, the WiFEX team has deployed cutting-edge instruments at key airports such as Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and the upcoming Jewar Airport, gaining crucial insights into the complex interactions among meteorology, aerosols, and boundary layer processes that drive fog formation.
To mark this milestone, IITM organized a special review meeting chaired by Dr. M. Rajeevan, who praised the team’s efforts and shared valuable guidance for the next phase of research. The discussions highlighted how WiFEX’s contributions have strengthened real-time fog forecasting, supported aviation operations, and improved public safety and health preparedness during severe winter fog events.
Acknowledging the achievement, IITM extended gratitude to the dedicated scientists, students, and collaborators from institutions including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), GMR, and other partner organizations.
“WiFEX is a shining example of how sustained research, collaboration, and innovation can bring science closer to people’s lives,” IITM noted in a statement, expressing hope that the next decade of fog research will deliver even more actionable solutions, better models, and tangible benefits for the communities that rely on its science.
