Winter season

INTRODUCTION

The cold weather season begins from mid - November in northern India and stays till February. December and January are the coldest months in the northern part of India.

The temperature decreases from south to the north. The average temperature of Chennai, on the eastern coast, is between 24 -25 Celsius, while in the northern plains, it ranges between 10 and 15 Celsius.

Days are warm and nights are cold. Frost is common in the north and the higher slopes of the Himalayas experience snowfall.

During this season, the northeast trade winds prevail over the country. They blow from land to sea and hence, for most part of country, it is a dry season.

Some amount of rainfall occurs on the Tamil Nadu coast from these winds as, here they blow from sea to land.

In the northern part of the country, a feeble high - pressure region develops, with light winds moving outwards from this sea.

Influenced by the relief, these winds blow through the Ganga valley from the west and northwest. The weather is normally marked by clear sky, low temperatures and low humidity and feeble variable winds.

A characteristic feature of the cold weather season over the northern plains is the inflow of cyclonic disturbances from the west and the northwest.

These low - pressure systems, originate over the Mediterranean Sea and the westerly flow. They cause the much needed winter rains over the plains and snowfall in the mountains.

Although the total amount of winter rainfall locally known as 'mahawat' is small, they are of immense importance for the cultivation of 'rabi' crops.

The peninsular region does not have a well - defined cold season. There is hardly any noticeable seasonal change in the temperature pattern during winters due to the moderating influence of the sea.

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