IMD’s ‘Cold May’ Shock: Why Northern India is Seeing Rain While the South Bakes Today
May 2023 has been marked by an unusual weather dichotomy across India. While the northern parts are enjoying thunderstorms & rain, along with cooler air, the southern portion of India has extreme heat and increasing humidity. This has resulted in what many have branded as “Cold May” in North India; however, the South continues to get baked by the summer heat.
Here are a few factors that explain why North India is experiencing cooler conditions at this time:
Why North India Is Cooler Right Now
1) The weather is being influenced by multiple Western Disturbances
There have been many Western Disturbance systems moving through North India. These systems provide:
– Cloud cover
– Thunderstorms
– Rainfall & high winds
The cloud cover provides shading from the direct sunlight while rain cools the ground momentarily, causing lower than normal daytime temperatures.
2) Moisture is moving inland from the Bay of Bengal
Inland moisture originating from the Bay of Bengal is mixing with hot air located over the northern plains resulting in:
– Formation of “black” clouds which appear suddenly
– Hailstorms in certain areas
– Thunderstorms in the evening
3) The development of heat has been delayed
Typically during the month of May, heat accumulates quickly in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), and Rajasthan. However, because of repeated storm systems, the accumulation of heat has been delayed resulting in:
– Cool afternoons compared to what would normally occur in May
– Variable weather is occurring more prevalence in the summer months.
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Why South India Is Still Facing Extreme Heat
In southern India, intense solar heat is being experienced along with high amounts of moisture; combined with weak atmospheric conveyor belts to cool the air down, this leads to:
– Throughout the south Indian states of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, instances of temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius and above from time to time
– Long, uncomfortable hot nights with little to no airflow to cool them
– Increase in heat index value due to the moisture content of the air
Will North India Stay Cool?
In Northern India is the cooling going to act the same way as in Southern India? Answer: Probable No
*The recent cooling trend has an estimated duration of a “temporary.
*The rain, as it happened over the last two months, was based more on the early-season weather phenomena than it was on the wet season. Once the sky clears, heat will quickly return.
– After the rain has ended, moisture levels in the air will have increased, as will humidity levels.
Final Words
The difference between the two regions of India illustrate how complex summer climatic patterns have become. The northern areas may have a short-lived period of coolness, but this does not represent a change in pattern – it is just a pause for the time being.
FAQs
1. Why are northern India cooler this May?
Due to frequent storms and wet weather the heat accumulation was interfered with.
2. Is the monsoon arriving ahead of schedule?
No, they will come from pre-monsoon weather phenomena.
3. Why is southern India still heating up?
Because of the lack of storms occurring to develop over south India like the north experiences.
4. When do you expect northern India to have heat last again?
Increases during the time between storm.
