Seasons of India

The Four Seasons of India

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recognizes four official seasons based on the monsoon cycle and temperature variations.

1. Winter (January–February)

• Temperature: Northern plains record 10–15°C; parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan go below 5°C
• Coldest region: Dras (Ladakh) — one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth (can go below −45°C)
• Pressure: High pressure over NW India; winds blow from land to sea
• Rainfall: Western disturbances bring winter rain (most beneficial for rabi crops) to Punjab, Haryana, western UP, Delhi, and parts of J&K
• Tamil Nadu coast receives rainfall from the northeast monsoon
• Clear skies, low humidity, feeble winds characterize most of the country

2. Summer (March–May)

• Temperature: Rises steadily from March; peaks in May (40–48°C in NW India and interior peninsula)
• Hottest region: North-western India (Rajasthan, Gujarat, interior Maharashtra)
• Heat wave: Temperatures exceeding 45°C common in Rajasthan (Churu, Ganganagar)
• Convectional rain: Kalbaisakhi (Nor’westers) in West Bengal and Assam — violent thunderstorms with hail
• Mango showers in Kerala and Karnataka — helps in mango ripening
• Loo: Hot, dry, dust-laden winds in NW India plains — can be fatal
• Low pressure develops over NW India; sets the stage for moisture-laden monsoon winds

3. Advancing Monsoon (June–September)

• South-west monsoon arrives on the Kerala coast around June 1
• Progresses through two branches: Arabian Sea Branch and Bay of Bengal Branch
• Mumbai: Arrives around June 10; Delhi: Around June 29
• Covers entire India by mid-July
• 75% of India’s annual rainfall occurs during this season
• Break monsoon: Periods of no rain for a week or more during the season
• Monsoon trough: Low-pressure axis from Rajasthan to Bay of Bengal — position determines rainfall distribution
• Maximum rainfall: Mawsynram (Meghalaya) — world’s highest average annual rainfall (~11,871 mm)

4. Retreating Monsoon (October–December)

• SW monsoon winds begin retreating from NW India by early September
• By early October, monsoon withdraws completely from NW India
• Skies become clear; temperatures rise (October heat)
• Northeast monsoon: Winds from NE pick up moisture from Bay of Bengal; bring rainfall to Tamil Nadu coast, coastal Andhra, Kerala — Oct–Dec is their main rainy season
• Tropical cyclones develop in the Bay of Bengal during this period, hitting the east coast (Odisha, Andhra, Tamil Nadu)

Regional Variations