📌 Topic 03 of 6 · Chapter 03 · Climate of India
Four Seasons of India
Cold Weather, Hot Weather, SW Monsoon, Retreating Monsoon — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
🌡️ Four Seasons of India
| Season | Period | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Cold Weather Season (Winter) | December – February | Low temperatures; NW India coldest; Western Disturbances bring rain to Punjab, Haryana; fog in Indo-Gangetic Plain |
| Hot Weather Season (Summer) | March – May | High temperatures; Loo winds; dust storms; pre-monsoon showers (Mango showers, Nor’westers) |
| SW Monsoon Season (Rainy) | June – September | SW monsoon; 75–90% of India’s annual rainfall; onset at Kerala June 1; covers all India by mid-July |
| Retreating Monsoon (Autumn) | October – November | SW monsoon withdraws; NE monsoon begins; cyclones in Bay of Bengal; Tamil Nadu gets rain |
❄️ Cold Weather Season (Dec–Feb)
- Temperature: 10–15°C in north; 20–25°C in south
- Western Disturbances — bring winter rain to Punjab, Haryana, UP, Uttarakhand — important for rabi crops (wheat)
- Dense fog in Indo-Gangetic Plain — disrupts transport
- Coldest place: Dras (Ladakh) — can reach –45°C
- Coldest capital: Srinagar (J&K)
☀️ Hot Weather Season (Mar–May)
- Temperature rises sharply — can reach 45–48°C in Rajasthan
- Loo — hot, dry, dusty wind blowing from west/northwest over NW India (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan)
- Dust storms (Andhi) — common in Rajasthan and UP
- Pre-monsoon showers:
- Mango Showers — Kerala, Karnataka — help mango ripening
- Blossom Showers — Kerala — help coffee blossoming
- Nor’westers (Kalbaisakhi) — West Bengal, Assam — violent thunderstorms from NW; help jute and rice cultivation
- Cherry Blossoms — Karnataka — help coffee
- Hottest place: Barmer (Rajasthan) — can reach 50°C
🌀 Retreating Monsoon (Oct–Nov)
- SW monsoon withdraws from NW India in September
- October Heat — high humidity + high temperature = very uncomfortable
- Cyclones form in Bay of Bengal — hit Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu coasts
- NE monsoon begins — brings rain to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh coast
- Chennai gets most of its rain during this season (Oct–Dec)
⭐ Local Winds of India:
• Loo = hot dry wind = NW India (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan) = summer
• Kalbaisakhi (Nor’westers) = violent thunderstorms = West Bengal, Assam = pre-monsoon
• Mango Showers = pre-monsoon rain = Kerala, Karnataka = helps mango ripening
• Blossom Showers = pre-monsoon rain = Kerala = helps coffee blossoming
• Loo = hot dry wind = NW India (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan) = summer
• Kalbaisakhi (Nor’westers) = violent thunderstorms = West Bengal, Assam = pre-monsoon
• Mango Showers = pre-monsoon rain = Kerala, Karnataka = helps mango ripening
• Blossom Showers = pre-monsoon rain = Kerala = helps coffee blossoming