the seasons

• Four main seasons in India: cold weather season, hot weather season, advancing monsoon, retreating monsoon
• • Feeble high-pressure region develops in northern part of the country, with winds moving through Ganga valley from west and northwest
  • Inflow of cyclonic disturbances from west and northwest brings winter rains over plains and snowfall in mountains
• Cold Weather Season (Winter):

  • Begins from mid-November in northern India and stays till February
  • Coldest months in northern India are December and January
  • Temperature decreases from south to north
  • Average temperature in Chennai is between 24°–25° Celsius, while in northern plains it ranges between 10°C and 15° Celsius
  • Days are warm and nights are cold
  • Frost is common in the north and higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall
  • Northeast trade winds prevail over the country, bringing dry season with some rainfall on Tamil Nadu coast
• Hot Weather Season (Summer):

  • From March to May
  • Rising temperature and falling air pressure in northern part of the country
  • Development of elongated low-pressure area from Thar Desert to Patna and Chotanagpur plateau
  • Strong, gusty, hot, dry winds known as 'loo' in north and northwestern India
  • Dust storms common in May, bringing temporary relief with lower temperature and light rain
  • Season for localised thunderstorms, hail, and violent winds
  • Pre-monsoon showers common towards end of summer season, especially in Kerala and Karnataka
• • Heavy rains can cause devastating floods in plains and droughts in other areas
  • Monsoon retreats gradually by beginning of October, marked by clear skies and rise in temperature
• Advancing Monsoon (The Rainy Season):

  • By early June, low-pressure condition over northern plains intensifies, attracting trade winds from southern hemisphere
  • South-east trade winds bring abundant moisture as they cross the equator and blow in as south-west monsoon
  • South-west monsoon covers country in about a month, bringing heavy rainfall to windward side of Western Ghats and north-eastern part of the country
  • Monsoon winds bring wet and dry spells, with breaks in rainfall related to movement of monsoon trough