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Geography of India - Climate and Seasons

Climate

There is a clear effect of landforms on climate in India. Himalaya and Hindukush ranges stop the cold winds coming from the north. Thought Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of India yet it is due to Himalayas that the Indo-Gangetic plain to the north of the Tropic of Cancer also has a tropical climate. On the other hand the Thar desert heats up during summers, becomes a low pressure area and attracts the monsoon winds which cause rains. According to the classification of Koppen six types of climate is found in India. The climate of India in the south is tropical and in the Himalayan region due to its height it is alpine (polar). In the north east India climate is tropical humid and in the western parts it is dry. Six climatic regions are found in India according to the classification of Koppen:

1. Alpine
2. Humid sub-tropical
3. Tropical wet and dry
4. Tropical wet
5. Semi-arid
6. Arid

Seasons

Traditionally six seasons were accepted in India but Indian Meteorological Department describes four seasons as follows:

1. Winters- From December to March, in which the months of December and January are the coldest. During these months the temperature in north India is on an average 10 to 15 degree Celsius.
2. Summers or Pre-monsoon – April to June in which May is the hottest month when the average temperature is 32 to 40 degree Celsius.
3. Monsoon or Rainy – July to September in which the maximum rain is in the month of August. The arrival and return of monsoon is gradual and in different parts it happens at different times. Generally the date of arrival of monsoon on the coast of Kerala is 1st June. Immediately after this it reached north east India and then gradually it moves from east to west and from south to north. The date of reaching Allahabad is considered to be 18th June and it reaches Delhi around 29th June.
4. Post-monsoon or Autumn – The October and November months in north India have clear weather and monsoon return in October which causes rain in the Tamil Nadu coast.