The climate of India is difficult to lay due to the country's large geographic size and varied topography. Many regions have their own microclimates (e.g. in mountain tops), and the mean climatic conditions in Kashmir (extreme north) are very different from those in the extreme south. Shown in green is the region under Pakistani administration. ...

India's climate is strongly influenced by The Himalaya and the Thar Desert. The Himalaya ensure, by acting as a barrier to the cold north winds from Central Asia, that northern India is warm or mildly cool during winter and hot during summer. So, although the Tropic of Cancer (the dividing line between the tropical and sub-tropical regions) passes almost through the middle of India, India as a whole is considered to be a tropical country. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... A NASA satellite image of the Thar Desert, with the India-Pakistan border superimposed. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia (Russian: Средняя Азия/Srednyaya Azia for Middle Asia or Центральная Азия/Tsentralnaya Azia for Central Asia; in Turkic languages Orta Asya; in Persian آسياى مرکزی; (Urdu: وسطى ايشيا)Wasti Asia; Standard Mandarin Chinese... The Tropic of Cancer (cancer (♋) is Latin for crab), one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth, is the parallel of latitude that lies 23° 26 22 north of the Equator. ...

India has three distinct seasons:

• Summer - from March to June
• Rainy - from June to October
• Winter - from November to March

For other senses of this word, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Monsoon in the Vindhya, a mountain chain in central India A monsoon is a (wind) pattern that reverses direction on a seasonal basis. ... For other senses of this word, see winter (disambiguation). ...

Summer

Summer in northwestern India lasts from April to July, and in the rest of the country from March to June. The temperatures in the north rise as the vertical rays of the Sun reach the Tropic of Cancer. The hottest month for the western and southern regions of the country is April, while for the northern regions it is May. By May, most of interior India experiences mean temperatures over 32°C and maximum temperatures exceeding 40°C. Temperatures of 49°C and higher have been recorded in parts of India during this season. Near the coast the temperature hovers around 36°C, and the proximity of the sea increases the level of humidity. In southern India, the temperatures are higher on the east coast by a few degrees compared to the west coast. The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system. ... The Tropic of Cancer (cancer (♋) is Latin for crab), one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth, is the parallel of latitude that lies 23° 26 22 north of the Equator. ...

Altitude affects the temperature to a large extent, with the higher parts of the Deccan plateau and hills being relatively cooler. The Himalayan and Nilgiri hill stations offer some respite from the heat with a high temperate of 25°C. The Deccan Plateau is a vast plateau in India, encompassing most of Central and Southern India. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... Map of The Nilgiris district The Nilgiris or Blue Mountains are a range of mountains and a district in the south-Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. ...

Monsoons

Map showing annual rainfall in Indian states

The monsoons come as a relief from the heat and parched landscape. The rains bring down the temperature, and make the surroundings lush and green. It is the best season to go hiking and trekking. The monsoons are intricately linked to the economy as a good monsoon results in a booming economy. The rains fill the ground water tables and reinvigorate rivers and lakes. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x1138, 66 KB) // Summary Annual precipitation map of India Author w:user:planemad Comments and Suggestions Please leave your suggestions or errors noted in the map here. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x1138, 66 KB) // Summary Annual precipitation map of India Author w:user:planemad Comments and Suggestions Please leave your suggestions or errors noted in the map here. ... A monsoon is a periodic wind, especially in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia. ... Beautiful natural scenes are common hiking destinations Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Groundwater is any water found below the land surface. ...

Southwest monsoons

The southwest monsoons supply over 80% of India's annual rainfall. There are two branches to the monsoon, the Bay of Bengal branch, and the Arabian Sea branch, extending to the low pressure area over the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The Arabian Sea branch is roughly three times stronger than the Bay of Bengal branch. A NASA satellite image of the Thar Desert, with the India-Pakistan border superimposed. ... Rajasthan (Hindi: राजस्थान) is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Map of the Arabian Sea. ...

The monsoon makes its presence felt by the end of May. It starts around the 29 May, hitting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It strikes the mainland in Kerala by 1 June. By 9 June, it reaches Mumbai, and Delhi by 29 June. The Bay of Bengal monsoon moves in a northwest direction whereas the Arabian Sea monsoon moves northeast. By the first week of July, the entire country experiences rain. But usually southern India receives more rainfall than northern India. May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... Map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an extra detailed area around Port Blair The Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Tamil: அந்தமான், Hindi: अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप) is a union territory of India. ... A map showing the location of the Bay of Bengal. ... Kerala ( (Anglicised) or (native); Malayalam: േകരളം, — ) is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... Bombay redirects here. ... It has been suggested that National Capital Territory of Delhi be merged into this article or section. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 185 days remaining. ...

Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, one of the world's wettest places, receives 10,000 mm (400 inches) of rainfall. Currently this record is held by Mawsynram, a village about 5 km west of Cherrapunji. The monsoons start its withdrawal by the last week of August from northern India. It withdraws from Mumbai by 5th October and eventually the entire country by the end of October. Meghalaya Cherrapunji is a town in Meghalaya, India which is credited as being one of the worlds wettest places. ... Meghalaya (मेघालय in Devanāgarī) is a small state in north-eastern India. ... Mawsynram is a village in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya state in north-eastern India, 56 kilometers from Shillong. ... Meghalaya Cherrapunji is a town in Meghalaya, India which is credited as being one of the worlds wettest places. ... Bombay redirects here. ...

Northeast monsoons

After the withdrawal of the south-west monsoon, the northeast monsoon sets in by November. Though much of India remains largely unaffected by this monsoon, it is very crucial for Tamil Nadu as it receives over 60% of rainfall due to northeast monsoon. This weather system produces rain primarily in the states of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and southeast corner of Karnataka. In Tamil Nadu, November is the wettest month of the year. But for the rest of the nation, this system supplies only 20% annual rainfall. Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Orissa (Hindi: ) (2001 provisional pop. ... Andhra Pradesh : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: / /), is a state in South India. ... Karnātakā (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: / /) is one of the four southern states of India. ...

Due to very active weather systems in the Bay of Bengal, many cyclones take place during this season. They generally occur between September and December, and mainly affect the eastern coast of India. Many cyclones have led to widespread devastation along the east coast of India. Many deaths and widespread destruction of property is reported every year in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These same cyclones often hit the neighbouring Bangladesh. A super cyclone that hit Orissa on 29-30 October, 1999 caused worst damage in known history and unofficial estimates put the loss of life around 30,000 to 35,000. Cyclones are rare on the west coast and mainly affect Gujarat and to even lesser extent Kerala. Andhra Pradesh : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: / /), is a state in South India. ... Orissa (Hindi: ) (2001 provisional pop. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... West Bengal (Bengali: পশ্চিম বঙ্গ, Hindi: पश्चिम बंगाल, Poshchim Bôngo) is a state in the eastern region of India. ... Gujarat (Gujarati: , , IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes Gujarath. ... Kerala ( (Anglicised) or (native); Malayalam: േകരളം, — ) is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

Winter

The temperature gradually falls in the country after September. As the vertical rays of the sun move south of the equator, the country experiences cool weather with temperatures decreasing by about 0.5°C for every 1° latitude moved north. December and January are typically the coldest months with mean temperatures of 10 to 15°C in the northwest and the Himalayan region. The mean temperatures increase towards east and south, where it is between 20 to 25°C. The equator is an imaginary circle drawn around a planet (or other astronomical object) at a distance halfway between the poles. ...

In northwest India, October and November are cloudless. This leads to a high diurnal range of temperatures during these months. It ranges between 16 to 20°C in northwest India as well as across much of Deccan Plateau, and 12 to 14°C in the coastal strip. Entire Himalayan range, from Kasmhir to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, receives significant snowfall. However, the rest of north India, i.e., plains, does not receive snow. But the minimum temperature in the plains falls below freezing occasionally, not for more than a couple of days in December and January. Highs in Delhi range between 16° to 21°C. Night-time temperatures range between 2 to 8°C. Further north in the Punjabregion the low does fall below freezing in the plains: to around -6°C in Amritsar. Frost sometimes occurs, but the hallmark of the season is the notorious fog which disrupts daily life. Diel means in the course of the day. Thus a diel variation is a variation that occurs regularly every day or most days. ... It has been suggested that National Capital Territory of Delhi be merged into this article or section. ... This article details the Indian state of Punjab. ... Amritsar (Punjabi: ), meaning Pool of the Nectar of Immortality, is the administrative headquarter of the Amritsar District in Punjab, India. ... It has been suggested that hoar frost be merged into this article or section. ... Sunlight filters through a thin layer of fog on a crisp winter morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico. ...

Northern India does receive some rainfall due to the western disturbances originating in the Mediterranean Sea. As these disturbances travel eastwards, unable to "climb" the Himalaya they drop their rain over north India. Satellite image The Mediterranean Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean almost completely enclosed by land, on the north by Europe, on the south by Africa, and on the east by Asia. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ...

Eastern India has a much milder climate. It has mild days and cool nights. Highs range from 23°C in Patna to 26°C in Calcutta and lows average 8°C in Patna to 14°C in Calcutta. The cold winds over the Brahmaputra River lower the temperatures. Brahmaputra A dugout with pilot in Chitwan. ...

In Southern India, inner Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and some parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh experience cooler weather. Minimum Temperatures in western Maharshtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh hover around 10°C. It is to about 16°C in the southern Deccan Plateau. Coastal areas and low-level interior tracts are warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C. The Nilgiri range is the exception, where the lows can fall below freezing. Maharashtra (Devanagari: महाराष्ट्र mahārāṣṭra, literally: Great Nation; IPA: / /)( ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Madhya Pradesh (मध्य प्रदेश) is a state in central India. ... Karnātakā (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: / /) is one of the four southern states of India. ... Andhra Pradesh : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: / /), is a state in South India. ... Map of The Nilgiris district The Nilgiris or Blue Mountains are a range of mountains and a district in the south-Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. ...

Withdrawal of monsoons

This is not a true season as such. Many text books however, refer to this as a separate season. This season lasts between September and December depending on its location. The weather turns more dry and the grass starts to dry up. This season marks the transition from wet to dry climate in most parts of India. Highs range between 34°C and 28°C.

Autumn and spring

Autumn and spring seasons only occur in the Himalayan states. These regions have a temperate season and experience 5 seasons annually.

Records

The highest temperature recorded in India was 50.6 °C (123.08 °F) in Alwar in 1955. The lowest was −45 °C (−49 °F) in Kashmir. Recent claims of temperatures touching 55 °C^[1] (131 °F) in Orissa have been met with some scepticism by the meteorological department, based largely on the method of recording of such data. These claims are not true. Alwar or Ulwar was a princely state in India during the time of British rule, in what is now Rajasthan. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... IMD logo The India Meteorological Department is a government of India organisation that is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasts, detecting earthquakes etc. ...