Question

The total amount of winter rainfall is known as ______________ in northern India.
(A) Mango showers
(B) El Nino
(C) Mahawat
(D) Jet stream

Answer 1

Hint: In northern India, the cold weather season begins from mid-November and stays till February. The coldest months are December and January in this part of India. From the south to the north, the temperature decreases. It is in the winters that the cyclonic disturbances occur over the northern plains.

Complete answer:
The average temperature in the northern plains ranges between $10^\circ {\text{C}}$ to $15^\circ {\text{C}}$ while on the eastern coast Chennai has a temperature range between $24^\circ {\text{C}}$ to $25^\circ {\text{C}}$. Nights are usually cold and the days warm. The higher slopes of the Himalayas experience heavy snowfall and frost is considered to be a lot common in the north. The northeast trade winds prevail over the country during this season. For most parts of the country, it is a dry season as they blow from land to sea. On the Tamil Nadu coast, they blow from sea to land and thus some amount of rainfall is experienced here from these winds. With light winds moving outwards from this area, a feeble high-pressure region develops in the northern part of the country. These winds blow through the Ganga valley from the west and the northwest influenced by the relief. The weather is normally characterized by low temperatures, clear sky, low humidity, and variable, feeble winds.
Over the northern plains, a characteristic feature of the cold weather season is the influx of cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest. These low-pressure systems which originate over western Asia and the Mediterranean Sea along with the westerly flow and move into India. They cause snowfall in the mountains and the much-needed winter rains over the plains. Although the total aggregate of winter rainfall locally known as ‘mahawat’ in northern India is less, they are of extreme importance for the cultivation of ‘rabi’ crops.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: During winters, due to the moderating influence of the sea, there is hardly any noticeable seasonal change in temperature patterns in the peninsular region.