Question

What causes rainfall during winter in the north-western part of India?

Answer 1

Hint: The north-western part of India receives a considerable amount of rainfall in the winter months of December-March. Even though this is only 15% of the annual precipitation.

Complete answer: The winter rainfall in the north-western part of India is very helpful for agriculture particularly the rabi crops. They are also useful for maintaining the glaciers in the Himalayas which provide water to the rivers throughout the year.This winter precipitation is caused by the ‘western disturbances’. Maximum rainfall occurs within the north-western regions in the hills.Wheat is the most important crop that is helped by this rainfall.The winter season experiences mainly four to five western disturbances Unusual rainfall, increased temperatures during nights and cloudy skies are the main characteristics of these western disturbances.Excessive rainfall that are caused by these western disturbances highly damage crops, cause floods and avalanches.The rainfall that caused by the western disturbances vary from place to place.The strongest western disturbances are reported in the northern parts of Pakistan where the areas get flooded numerous times during the winter season.The western disturbances originate in the Mediterranean sea and enters India through the westerly jet streams.

Note: After the winter season the western disturbances start declining.They move across north India during the summer months of April and May.In northern India it helps to bring pre monsoon rainfall.In the Indo-Gangetic plains it creates cold waves and dense fog.