March is the time when the weather in India tends to become pleasantly warm with rising day and night temperatures. But this year due to continuous rain and clouds, temperatures are yet to record their normal for the month in almost all the parts of the country.
Going by the extended weather forecast in India, as we are approaching the third week of the month, the weather will not change much due to another Western Disturbance during the weekend. Skymet Meteorology Division in India lists some of the reason why it has rained so much in March.
Strong Western Disturbances
These extra tropical weather systems become less effective in March due to the sun shifting towards the northern Hemisphere. But in March this year, North India has witnessed three strong Western Disturbances, from 28th February to 2nd of March, 5th to 7th March and the third from 10th till now. These Western Disturbances are the reason behind the below normal day temperatures and good amount of rain in North India.
Cyclonic circulations
Northwest plain is used to witnessing winds from the west direction, which increases the temperatures in the region. But this year it has been different as continuous emergence of cyclonic circulations over Rajasthan and their eastward movements have let moist winds to invade the region resulting in rain and hail.
Confluence of winds
Since the start of March, back to back anti-cyclonic features have emerged in the Bay of Bengal close to the east coast due to which moist southeasterly winds have managed to reach up to Central India this time. Their confluence with the southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea is the reason behind so much rain and hail in east Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada and Telangana.
Photograph by Mckay Savage
