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Awestern disturbance is anextratropical storm originating in theMediterranean region that brings sudden winter rain to the northwestern parts of theIndian subcontinent,[1][2] which extends as east as up to northern parts ofBangladesh and South easternNepal.[3] It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by thewesterlies. The moisture in these storms usually originates over theMediterranean Sea, theCaspian Sea and theBlack Sea.[4][5] Extratropical storms are a global phenomena with moisture usually carried in the upper atmosphere, unlike theirtropical counterparts where the moisture is carried in the lower atmosphere. In the case of the Indian subcontinent, moisture is sometimes shed as rain when the storm system encounters theHimalayas. Western disturbances are more frequent and stronger in the winter season.[6]
Western disturbances are important for the development of theRabi crop, which includes the locally important staplewheat.[7][8]
Western disturbances originate in the Mediterranean region in Mediterranean sea. Ahigh-pressure area overUkraine and neighbourhood consolidates, causing the intrusion of cold air frompolar regions towards an area of relatively warmer air with high moisture. This generates favorable conditions forcyclogenesis in the upper atmosphere, which promotes the formation of aneastward-movingextratropical depression. Traveling at speeds up to 12 m/s (43 km/h; 27 mph), the disturbance moves towards the Indian subcontinent until the Himalayas inhibits its development, upon which the depression rapidly weakens.[5] The western disturbances are embedded in the mid-latitudesubtropical westerly jet stream.[9]
Western disturbances, specifically the ones in winter, bring moderate to heavy rain in low-lying areas and heavy snow to mountainous areas of the Indian Subcontinent. They are the cause of most winter and post-monsoon season rainfall across Pakistan and northwest India. Precipitation during the winter season has great importance in agriculture, particularly for the rabi crops.[7] Wheat among them is one of the most important crops, which helps to meet India's food security. An average of four to five western disturbances form during the winter season. The rainfall distribution and amount varies with every western disturbance.
Western disturbances are usually associated with cloudy sky, higher night temperatures and unusual rain. Excessive precipitation due to western disturbances can cause crop damage, landslides, floods and avalanches. Over theIndo-Gangetic plains, they occasionally bringcold wave conditions and dense fog.[5] These conditions remain stable until disturbed by another western disturbance. When western disturbances move across northwest India before the onset of monsoon, a temporary advancement of monsoon current appears over the region.
The strongest western disturbances usually occur in the western andnorthern parts of Pakistan, where flooding is reported number of times during the winter season.
Western disturbances start declining in numbers after winter. During the summer months of April and May, they move across north India. Thesouthwest monsoon current generally progresses from east to west in the northern Himalayan region, unlike western disturbances which follow a west to east trend in north India with consequent rise in pressure carrying cold pool of air. This helps in the activation of monsoon in Afghanistan and certain parts of northwest India. It also causes pre-monsoon rainfall especially in northern India.[citation needed]
The interaction of the monsoontrough with western disturbances may occasionally cause dense clouding and heavy precipitation. The2013 North India floods, which killed more than 5000 people in a span of 3 days, is said to be a result of one such interaction.[5]
... The onset of a western disturbance is heralded by dense thunder clouds accompanied by heavy rain or snow. The weather conditions during winter are generally influenced by the distribution pattern of pressure in Central and West Asia. In winter, due to the shifting of the pressure belts, the westerlies blow from 20°N to 50°N latitude and Northern India comes under the influence of the winds and cyclones rising from the Mediterranean Sea. In the wake of the disturbance comes cold air and often accompanied by strong winds ...
... Rains during winter mont in north India are due to occurrence of low pressure system called western disturbances. This moves from the west to the east causing snow fall in the high ranges in the Himalayas and rains in sub-mountainous tracts and adjoining areas ...
... These states are: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. These states receive some rainfall (precipitation) during the rabi season, brought about by western disturbances, which originate in the Mediterranean region. These showers are very beneficial for rabi crops ...
... In northern India rainfall occurs again during the year in connection with the Western Disturbances which are of great agricultural importance to north-west India as they occur chiefly during the Rabi ...
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