WESTERN DISTURBANCES Â Â Â Â Â Â
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Context
- Western Disturbances come to India, bringing rainfall to north and central parts of the country.
Western disturbances explained
- A western disturbance is an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region that brings sudden winter rain to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
- It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the westerlies.
- The moisture in these storms usually originates over the Mediterranean Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea.
- Extratropical storms are a global phenomena with moisture usually carried in the upper atmosphere, unlike their tropical counterparts where the moisture is carried in the lower atmosphere.
- Western disturbances are more frequent and stronger in the winter season.
- Western disturbances are important for the development of the Rabi crop , which includes the locally important staple wheat.
- Western disturbances are usually associated with cloudy sky, higher night temperatures and unusual rain.
- Excessive precipitation due to western disturbances can cause crop damage, landslides, floods and avalanches.
- Over the Indo-Gangetic plains, they occasionally bring cold wave conditions and dense fog.