Heavy rainfall and strong winds witnessed across Delhi region due to Western Disturbance | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Heavy rainfall and strong winds witnessed across Delhi region due to Western Disturbance

Posted 03 May 2025

2 min read

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the weather conditions were triggered by a fresh Western Disturbance over northern and northwestern India.

  • There has been an increase in the frequency of Western Disturbances which is directly linked to climate change. 

Western Disturbances (WD)

  • Western Disturbances are extratropical storms that are a result of low-pressure areas formed due to the interactions between polar and tropical winds.
    • These are embedded within the subtropical westerly jet stream — a high-altitude, fast-moving air current that flows from west to east in the Earth’s atmosphere — that lies over the Himalayan and Tibetan highlands.
  • WD originate in the Caspian Sea or the Mediterranean region and bring sudden winter rain to Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Western Himalaya region.
  • Characteristics:
    • It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern which is driven by the westerlies.
    • Most common during the boreal winter (December to March).
    • Results in cold waves, fog, avalanches, landslides, lightning and heavy precipitation.
      • E.g. Uttarakhand Floods in June 2013.
    • Significance: Winter precipitation crucial for water security and agriculture, particularly for the Rabi crops.

Climate Change and Western Disturbances

  • Increase in WD Frequency due to rising global temperatures and subsequent strengthening of subtropical westerly jet stream.
  • Impacts on weather outside winter season leading to rise in extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and floods. 
  • Increasing moisture in WD due to rapid warming of the Arabian Sea.
  • Increasing expanse of WD  due to broadening of subtropical westerly jet stream. 
  • Tags :
  • Monsoon
  • Climate Change
  • Western Disturbance
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