BAL BHARATI PUBLIC SCHOOL, GRH MARG

Class: 9

Subject: Geography

Topic- Advancing Monsoons, Retreating Monsoons & Distribution of Rainfall.

Seasons
[Link] are the main features of Col Weather Season?

COLD WEATHER SEASON

●​ Duration-

The cold weather season begins from mid-November in northern India and stays till February.
December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.

●​ Decrease in Temperature-

The temperature decreases from south to the north.

The average temperature of Chennai, on the eastern coast, is between 24° - 25° Celsius, while
in the northern plains, it ranges between 10° - 15° Celsius.

●​ General weather conditions-

Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north. The peninsular India does
not have a well- defined cold season

The weather is normally marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and feeble,
variable winds.

●​ Prevailing winds-

Northeast winds prevail over the country in the winter season. They blow from land to sea and
hence, for most part of the country, it is a dry season

●​ Rainfall in the cold weather season-

Rains in Tamilnadu-

During winter season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country.

Some amount of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast fromNorth East winds. During
October and November, northeast winds while crossing over the Bay of Bengal, picks up
moisture and causes torrential rainfall over the Tamil Nadu coast, southern Andhra Pradesh,
southeast Karnataka and southeast Kerala.

Rains in the North & Northwest India-

A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the inflow of
cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest.

The low-pressure cyclonic disturbances originate over the Mediterranean Sea and and move
into India, along with the westerly flow.

They cause the much-needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.

This winter rainfall locally known as ‘mahawat is of immense importance for the cultivation of
‘rabi’ crops.

Related questions

What are the main features of Hot Weather Season?

HOT WEATHER SEASON

DURATION- The hot weather season in India is from March to May.

RISE IN TEMPERATURE-In Peninsular India, temperature remains lower due to the moderating
influence of the seas on three sides whereas it goes as high as 480C in the northwestern parts
of the country.

Formation of low pressure area-Summer months experience rising temperature and falling air
pressure in the northern part of the country. An elongated low pressure area develops in the
region.

local winds loo- Strong, hot, dry winds known as loo blow during the day over the northern
India. Direct exposure to these winds may even prove to be fatal.
Dust storms are very common during the month of May in northern India. These storms bring
temporary relief as they lower the temperature and may bring light rain and cool breeze.

‘Kaal Baisakhi’.This is also the season for localised thunderstorms, associated with violent
winds, torrential downpours, often accompanied by hail. In West Bengal, these storms are
known as the Kaal Baisakhi,

Pre-monsoon showers -Towards the close of the summer season, pre-monsoon showers are
common especially, in Kerala and Karnataka. They help in the early ripening of mangoes, and
are often referred to as ‘mango showers’.

Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season)

The duration of the monsoon is between 100- 120 days from early June to mid-September

By early June, the low-pressure condition over the northern plains become very strong and
attract the trade winds of the southern [Link] cross the equator and blow in a south
westerly direction entering the Indian peninsula as the south-west monsoon.

As the south west Monsoon winds blow over warm oceans, they bring abundant moisture to
the subcontinent. The monsoon winds cover the country in about a month.
 ●​ The Arabian Sea Branch enters from west so in the peninsular plateau amount of
rainfall decreases from west to east.
●​ The Bay of bengal branch after getting deflected by the the Arakan Hills enter the
Northern plains from the east hence the amount of rainfall decreases from the east
to west in the Ganga Valley.

Places receiving very heavy rainfall

[Link] windward side of the Western Ghats receives very heavy rainfall, more than 250 cm.
[Link] north-eastern part of the country. Mawsynram in the southern ranges of the Khasi Hills
receives the highest average rainfall in the world.

The unique topography of Mawsynram is responsible for the highest rainfall.

It is located in the 'southern slopes of Khasi hills' and this place is bordered by 'hills on three
sides'.
The moist winds coming from the Bay of Bengal are stopped by these hills. Once these winds
enter the funnel shaped valley of the Khasi hills, they rise along the slopes, cool down and
cause rainfall.
This place rains almost every day .
Places receiving very low rainfall
Western Rajasthan

●​ Firstly the Arabian Sea Branch of South West Monsoon that causes rains in Western
and South-Western India runs parallel to the Aravalli range the Aravali Range in
Rajasthan does not offer any obstruction to the rain bearing winds. In the absence of
any barrier to cause the necessary uplift to cool the winds the monsoon winds do not
cause much rains here.
●​ Secondly the surface temperature of western Rajasthan is quite high during summer
season. The winds become warm blowing over sandy plains and fail to give much rain.
 The interior of the Deccan plateau, and east of the Sahyadris- It is the rainshadow area of
the Western Ghats. The winds reach here after giving rains to the windward side , these winds
are warm and dry and their rain giving capacity is very low on the leeward side.
Leh in LADDAKH- It is the Rain Shadow area of the Himalayas and does not get much
rainfall.

Breaks in Monsoon

•Rains do not fall continuously during the monsoon season. There are dry spells and wet spells.
Monsoons are uncertain and irregular.

What are the main features of the Retreating Monsoon Season?

Retreating Monsoon
In the month of October ,with the apparent movement of the sun towards the south, the
low-pressure trough over the northern plains becomes weaker. This is gradually replaced by a
high-pressure system. The south-west monsoon winds weaken. By the beginning of October,
the monsoon withdraws from the Northern Plains.

Duration- October-November

A period of transition-

The hot rainy season starts turning into dry winter conditions.

The low-pressure system over the northern plains is gradually replaced by a high-pressure
system.
The South West Monsoon winds are replaced by North East Trade winds.

October Heat- The retreat of the monsoon in early October is marked by clear skies and rise in
temperature. The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions of high temperature and humidity,
the weather becomes rather oppressive during the day. This is commonly known as ‘October
heat’.

Cyclonic depressions - These cyclones originate over the Andaman Sea, generally cross the
eastern coasts of India, cause heavy and widespread rain.

The area affected- The thickly populated deltas of the Godavari, the Krishna and theKaveri are
frequently struck by cyclones, Sometimes, these cyclones arrive at the coasts of Odisha, West
Bengal and Bangladesh.

Impact- These tropical cyclones are often very destructive and cause great damage to life and
property.

Distribution of Rainfall

REGIONS OF HEAVY RAINFALL

Annual rainfall of over 400 cm is received over parts of western coast & western slopes of the
western Ghats and north-eastern India.
REGIONS OF SCANTY RAINFALL

a. It is less than 60cm in western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana and
Punjab.

b. Rainfall is also low in the interior of the Deccan plateau, east of the Sahayadris..

c. A third area of low precipitation is around Leh in Jammu and Kashmir

REGIONS OF MODERATE RAINFALL

The rest of the country receives moderate rainfall.