Residents of Punjab are often seen complaining about repeated failed predictions by the India Meteorological Department of Chandigarh Units. Apart from IMD Chandigarh, predictions by websites like AccuWeather and Apple Weather also often go wrong, especially during the monsoon season.
Hence, IMD Chandigarh and other weather apps are losing their credibility among people. In the meantime, a man named Baljinder Singh Maan has turned out to be Punjab's own weatherman, who is giving accurate predictions. People's trust in Baljinder Singh Maan can be understood by the fact that his Instagram Page 'mosam_panjab_da' enjoys a whopping over 1 lakh followers- 139K to be exact (while writing).
Now, the question arises, who is Baljinder Singh Maan, and how does he give such accurate weather predictions? Continue reading below to know the details-
Who is Baljinder Singh Maan?
Hailing from Punjab’s Mansa district, Baljinder Singh Maan, a resident of Ballon village, has stunned many by delivering more accurate weather predictions than top global weather apps. Without formal training in meteorology, Maan has used self-acquired knowledge, local data, and advanced equipment to build a trusted local forecasting system.
How does Baljinder Singh Maan give weather predictions?
Baljinder Singh Maan, while talking to True Scoop, informed, "I realized how much damage people face, especially farmers, due to unreliable weather updates. That’s when I felt it was important to share accurate information. I started a social media page in February 2018, initially posting weather updates every 8–10 days. Later, I moved to 10–15 day forecasts and then began sharing hour-to-hour updates. I even predict which months will see more or less rainfall.”
What is Baljinder Singh Maan's educational qualification?
Baljinder informed that he completed his B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science). He began preparing for an M.Sc. in meteorology. However, he had to drop his studies due to an unexpected family issue. Baljinder also informed that he always wanted to work for IMD, but as he did not complete his M.Sc., he could not pursue it.
Why do IMD and other weather app predictions often go wrong?
Baljinder Singh Maan said, "Many apps don’t consider key parameters like the high CAPE index. The official websites rely heavily on computer-generated data from the US and other agencies, which lacks precision at the local level."
How does Baljinder Singh Maan predict the weather?
The weatherman revealed, "To refine his predictions, he invested in multiple tools. He owns a personal Automatic Weather Station (AWS) that records wind speed, air pressure, air and soil moisture, and rainfall. He also has paid subscriptions to weather data services from agencies in the US and Europe.
In a unique step, he even installed a Lightning Detector Radar, sent by a German company, on his rooftop. "It tells me exactly where lightning strikes are occurring in the area," he said.
Why do weather predictions in Punjab often go wrong?
Maan said, "In Punjab, out of 30 AWS units, only 7–8 are operational. These stations are critical for real-time data, and without them, accurate forecasting is difficult. Increasing their number would significantly improve predictions."
How accurate is Maan's weather prediction?
The weatherman revealed, "My accuracy is 90% during winter and summer. In the monsoon season, it drops to 50–60% due to the unpredictable nature of rainfall. On average, my forecasts are about 70–80% accurate."
While talking to True Scoop, Baljinder also predicted above-average rainfall in Punjab in July based on his latest analysis.