Engaging young people in weather awareness and outreach is crucial for preparing a generation to face weather challenges. This is especially so considering the impact of climate change. Young individuals quickly adopt new technology and trends. They could be allies in sharing vital weather information. Engaging youth in these efforts can help the community to be more knowledgeable and, hence, lower risks to society during severe weather. The youth can spark a lasting passion for meteorology and environmental care. Keeping this in view, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) initiated the program entitled "Weather and Youth (WAY)" to engage young people in weather awareness and outreach initiatives as mentioned below:

Young people today are very connected through social media, where new trends spread quickly to large groups. IMD uses platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube to disseminate weather-related contents that attract younger audiences. In addition, IMD has initiated the development of a dedicated web-based application, Weather and Youth (WAY), to connect young people with weather-related information effectively. It is planned to launch the portal officially during the 150th Year of celebration in January 2025. This application includes interesting facts about the weather, quizzes, and posts that invite young people to share their local weather updates and weather learning modules. Using digital platforms, they could also host live Q&A sessions with meteorologists, partner with young social media influencers to talk about weather safety or create challenges to engage with youth personally through the IMD WAY web application. These efforts will help the IMD reach city and rural youth, teaching them the importance of being aware of the weather in their everyday lives.

IMD plans to work with schools to create weather clubs or add weather lessons to the classes. Weather clubs offer students a fun, hands-on way to learn about weather, climate, and environmental protection. In these clubs, students can track the weather, analyze data, and visit local weather stations for authentic experiences. Also, including meteorology in science classes or hosting workshops with IMD scientists can help students grasp weather and climate science better. These programmes can motivate students to explore meteorology as a research career and encourage them to promote weather awareness in the society.

Young India play a crucial role in helping their communities prepare for extreme weather events, especially in areas prone to natural disasters. Mausam Mitra volunteers with local youth groups, like scouts, sports teams, and environmental clubs, to teach teens the basics of weather safety and early action. They can learn about warning systems, emergency kits, and early action. This knowledge can then be shared with their families and neighbours. Furthermore, young individuals are encouraged to volunteer during weather emergencies, helping to spread important information or assisting with agencies for safety measures. These activities foster a sense of duty and awareness, enabling young people as significant contributors to weather emergencies.

India has a strong tradition of producing world-class technology leaders, and many young people are eager to explore coding, app development, and data science. IMD promotes innovation in meteorology by hosting hackathons, competitions, and internships for youth. Young people who enjoy data science could work on projects that analyse weather information or build models to predict local weather in collaboration with IMD. These activities not only give hands-on experience but also motivate youth to apply their skills for the benefit of the community.

Citizen science projects involving youth can contribute significantly to weather research and data collection. IMD created a cloud-sourcing platform to involve youth in measuring and reporting rainfall, snowfall, or temperature changes in their communities. Using IMD mobile apps, they can log their local observations, which add to the larger data sets used by meteorologists. This hands-on experience improves their understanding of science, fostering awareness of weather patterns and the environmental condition impacting their neighborhoods.

Involving young people in weather awareness and outreach will help build a stronger society that values reliable weather information and is better prepared for weather events. Using digital tools, educational programs, community activities, technology projects, and citizen science, IMD motivates youth to engage with the science of weather & Climate and serve society. Making weather awareness a crucial part of youth culture will help create a generation of knowledgeable and active citizens who are weather ready and climate smart.