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Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of t... - Contemporary India
Give an account of weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season.
The weather conditions and characteristics of the cold season (winter) in India are as follows:
Duration: The cold weather season begins from mid-November in northern India and stays till February. December and January are the coldest months.
Temperature: The temperature decreases from south to north. In the northern plains, the average temperature ranges between 10°C and 15°C, while in the coastal areas (like Chennai), it remains moderate at around 24°C–25°C.
Days and Nights: The season is characterized by warm days and cold nights. Frost is common in the north, and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.
Pressure and Winds: A high-pressure area develops over northern India. Light winds blow outwards from this area. Being land-to-sea winds (North-east Trade Winds), they are mostly dry.
Sky and Humidity: The weather is generally marked by clear skies, low temperatures, low humidity, and feeble, variable winds.
Western Cyclonic Disturbances: A characteristic feature of the cold weather over the northern plains is the inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the Mediterranean Sea. These cause winter rains (locally known as Mahawat) in the plains and snowfall in the mountains.
Importance for Crops: Although the total amount of winter rainfall is small, it is of immense importance for the cultivation of 'rabi' crops.