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Home / IAS Preparation / Western Disturbances

Demystifying Western Disturbances: Influencing Weather Patterns in India!

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A Western Disturbance is a type of storm that originates over the Mediterranean Sea and travels east into parts of South Asia. It brings sudden winter rain to northern India, Pakistan, northwestern Bangladesh and southern Nepal.

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Formation Of Western Disturbances in India

Western Disturbances originate from storms that form over the Mediterranean Sea. They happen when cold air from the Arctic meets warm, moist air over the sea.

  • A high-pressure system over Russia pushes the cold air south, causing the warm, moist Mediterranean air to rise and form an extratropical depression - meaning a non-tropical storm that starts outside the tropics. This creates conditions for a cyclone to develop.
  • These Western Disturbances then move east, hitting places like Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching India. When they interact with the Himalayan mountains, the rising air cools and produces winter rains or snow over northern India and nearby areas.
  • Western Disturbances typically happen from December to March when the pressure difference between polar and subtropical air masses is greatest. They account for up to 30% of winter precipitation in parts of northwest India and Pakistan.
  • In years with frequent Western Disturbances, northern India and Pakistan see more widespread winter rains and cooler temperatures. But in years with fewer systems, winters tend to remain warmer and drier.
  • In short, while Western Disturbances originate from extratropical storms over the Mediterranean, they significantly impact the climate of parts of South Asia during winter. Their interaction with the Himalayas produces precipitation that boosts water resources during what is otherwise a dry season.

Fig: Western Disturbances

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Important Places Getting Rain from Western Disturbances

During winter months, many places in northern India get rain or snow from western disturbances. The rain and snow affect life in these places by watering crops, filling rivers and lakes, and helping glaciers.

  • The places most affected by western disturbances are in northwestern India. The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh get medium to heavy rainfall from these storms.
  • The rainfall helps winter crops like wheat, barley, and mustard grow from October to March. The wet soil ensures good harvests that support the farm economy and provide food.
  • The western Himalayan region within Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand also gets a lot of rain and snow from western disturbances. The mountains receive heavy winter snowfall from the storms.
  • The snowfall fills glaciers and high mountain lakes that serve as water stores. The melting snow also keeps rivers flowing in spring and summer. Many rivers that water the northern plains, like the Indus River, start in the western Himalayas.
  • Sometimes western disturbances spread southeast, affecting places in central India like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. But rainfall lessens the farther east the storms go.
  • The part of the Gangetic Plain in western Uttar Pradesh still depends on rainfall from western disturbances to wet farms for rabi crops. The rain keeps the soil moist and rivers full to support farming and drinking water.
  • Though northwestern India and the western Himalayas get the most impact, smaller benefits go to other places. A small amount of rain from western disturbances in parts of central India can help keep farms going and provide water.

Effects Of Western Disturbances

The impacts of these storms include changes to the local climate, effects on crop growth, soil erosion, and other factors. As a result, though vital to India's environmental system, the country is more adversely affected due to its reliance on non-monsoonal precipitation.

  • In northwest India, western disturbances cause most of the winter and pre-monsoon rainfall. They are often associated with cloudy skies, warmer nights and unusual rain. Around 5-10% of India's annual rainfall comes from western disturbances.
  • During winter, western winds bring moderate to heavy rain to lowlands and heavy snow to mountains. Western disturbances are important for rabi crops like wheat after winter when monsoon rains have stopped.
  • In spring, western disturbances can help activate the monsoon over north India. However, weak western disturbances have been linked to water shortages and crop failure. Taking advantage of stronger western disturbances can help avoid issues with water scarcity.
  • In summary, while western disturbances provide needed precipitation for northern India, they are also part of an extra-tropical storm system that has adverse impacts through soil erosion, crop damage, landslides and more. A nuanced approach is needed to maximize their benefits and minimize harm.

Problems Associated with Western Disturbances

While Western Disturbances bring needed winter rain and snow to northern India, they can also cause problems.

  • In areas with high rainfall and population density, western disturbances frequently lead to soil erosion as the top layer of earth is washed away. They are also linked to extended cloud cover and warmer nighttime temperatures.
  • In cases of heavy rain, western disturbances can cause significant crop damage, especially when thick fog and mist prevail. They often result in landslides and avalanches in mountainous regions.
  • Therefore, while western disturbances provide important precipitation for northern India, they are also part of an extra-tropical storm system that has destructive effects.

Importance

Western disturbances affect the winter weather of Patna in Bihar and sometimes bring important rainfall for rabi crops like wheat, barley, mustard, gram, lentils and others.

  • During winter, western disturbances cause considerable snowfall in the mountains and moderate to heavy rainfall in low-lying areas of the Indian subcontinent. In northwest India, they account for most of the post-monsoon and winter precipitation.
  • Rainfall during winter is crucial for rabi crops, especially wheat which is a major crop for India's food security needs. During winter, around 4-5 western disturbances typically occur. Each one can bring different amounts and patterns of rainfall.
  • Signs of western disturbances include cloudy skies, warmer night temperatures and unusual rainfall.
  • Western disturbance rains benefit rabi crops that grow during winter months when monsoon rains have ended. The precipitation replenishes soil moisture for crops like wheat which generally grow from October to March.
  • While western disturbance rainfall helps agriculture, it can also cause problems if the rains are very heavy. Excessive winter rain can damage crops, particularly when accompanied by thick fog and mist.
  • In summary, though western disturbances mainly impact northwest India, they sometimes reach Patna and its surrounding areas. The rainfall they bring can be valuable for irrigating rabi crops during the winter dry season. However, very heavy western disturbance rain poses risks, and farmers must weigh the benefits against potential crop damage. Overall, a judicious use of this winter precipitation source can aid food production.

Conclusion

Northwestern India and the western Himalayan region are most tied to western disturbances. The storms bring rain and snow that impact life through farming, glaciers, rivers, food supplies, hydropower, and water availability. Western disturbances also spread into parts of central India, where rainfall still helps provide resources. Though western disturbances affect different places in different ways, all benefit during the dry winter from the moisture the storms carry.

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Western Disturbances FAQs

Western disturbances are extra-tropical storms that originate over the Mediterranean Sea and move east into parts of South Asia, bringing winter rain and snow.

Northwestern India, the western Himalayan region, and parts of central India receive rains and snow from western disturbances. But northwestern India is impacted the most.

Rain and snow from western disturbances help recharge soil moisture, replenish glaciers, maintain river flows, and provide critical irrigation for rabi crops during the dry winter season.

Heavy rainfall from intense western disturbances can damage rabi crops, cause landslides and floods, and excess snowfall can disrupt transport. However, overall they are largely beneficial.

They form when cold winds from Europe and Central Asia push south into the relatively warmer and moist air over the Mediterranean Sea, creating storms that move eastwards.
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