Is it raining in your area? 🌦️⛈️
- So many states are raining! But the situation is extreme in 4 northern states specifically- Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana.
- Delhi broke a 40-year-old rainfall record!! Delhi received 153 mm of rainfall in a single day in July (8-9th July), which is the highest since 1982.
- Himachal Pradesh experienced 1,193% excess rainfall, with 103.8 mm compared to the normal of 8 mm. Punjab recorded 1,151% excess rainfall, with 57.5 mm compared to the normal of 4.6 mm.
- Why? Because of the interaction between monsoon winds and western disturbances.
- In India, it is almost confirmed that the monsoon arrives in July and lasts till September. However, Western Disturbance has no fixed time of arrival.
- Also, while the monsoon period is around three months, Western Disturbances can last for very short spells.
What is Western Disturbance (WD)?
- A WD is a storm originating from the Mediterranean region, completely different from the monsoon.
- Western disturbances carry moisture in the upper atmosphere, unlike tropical systems. They are frequent and can vary in duration.
- Western Disturbances greatly impact northern India’s weather. They bring cloud cover, rainfall, and occasionally snowfall to the northwestern regions, especially the higher altitudes of the Himalayas.
- Meanwhile, Monsoonal winds refer to the seasonal wind patterns that prevail in the Indian subcontinent, bringing about the Indian Monsoon.
- Monsoonal winds and western disturbances caused heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana, resulting in landslides, flash floods, and infrastructure damage.
Sources:
- NDTV: What Led To Intense Rain In North India? Weather Office Explains: 10 July 2023
- Hindustan Times: Why North India is facing unusually heavy rains, explained: 10 July 2023
- Indian Express: What caused the recent heavy rainfall around Chandigarh?: 11 Jul 2023
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