Coimbatore Corporation to install rain gauges at 12 locations across city

The Coimbatore Corporation is installing its own rain gauges at 12 locations across the city to obtain real-time, location-specific rainfall data and improve its response during heavy rain.

Rain gauges were installed at R.S. Puram and Town Hall before the recent spell of rain, while one was installed at Vilankurichi on Tuesday (October 27, 2026). The installation process at the remaining locations is expected to be completed within a week. The project is estimated to cost around ₹10 lakh.

The gauges will operate on the tipping-bucket principle, with each tip representing 0.2 mm of rainfall. Rainwater collected through a funnel fills a small bucket, which tips automatically when it reaches a calibrated volume, empties and resets. Each tip is electronically recorded to calculate the amount of rainfall received over a given period.

The devices will transmit rainfall readings to a central system at one-minute intervals. The data will be uploaded to cloud storage, enabling the Corporation to access and analyse readings through its Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).

The system will also have local data storage to preserve readings during internet connectivity failures. A UPS will provide power backup for up to a week, allowing the devices to continue operating during power interruptions.

Until now, the Corporation has relied on rainfall data from the district administration and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, which are not available in real time, an official said. The new network would help the civic body identify locations receiving heavy rainfall in near real time and mobilise personnel to address waterlogging and other rain-related problems more quickly, the official said.

The data collected over a longer period would also help the Corporation analyse rainfall patterns across different parts of the city and identify areas that consistently receive higher rainfall. This would help the civic body understand local rainfall trends and improve preparedness for future rain events, the official added.