Bhubaneswar: Odisha-born Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of India Meteorological Department (IMD), has bagged the the Scientific and Technological Activities Commission (STAC) Outstanding Service Award 2025 from the American Meteorological Society (AMS).
The prestigious award has been conferred to the IMD DG for his contribution to tropical cyclone prediction and warning systems in the Indian Ocean region through exceptional leadership and services that reduced loss of life and minimized damage.
Mohapatra is widely known as the cyclone man due to his prediction of trajectories for cyclones Phailin (2013), Hudhud (2014), Sagar and Mekunu (2018), Titli and Luban (2018), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020), Biparjoy (2023), Remal and Dana (2024).
Earlier, Mohapatra was conferred the STAC award as the IMD celebrates its 150th anniversary and is launching Mission Mausam to help the country deal with extreme weather events often as a result of the climate crisis.
He was elected World Meteorological Organization vice president in 2023 in recognition of his contributions.