Indian Climate and Seasons

Karnataka receives the vast majority of its rainfall during the southwest monsoon season; consequently, winter rainfall is minimal.

Nayakna Hatti, situated in the Chitradurga district, is known as one of the driest regions in Karnataka due to its location in the rain-shadow zone.

The retreating monsoon (northeast monsoon) contributes a relatively small portion of the total annual rainfall in Karnataka, typically cited as around 12 percent.

The eastern maidans are located in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats, resulting in low rainfall compared to the coastal and Malnad regions.

Due to its varying geographic and physio-graphic conditions, Karnataka experiences climatic variations that range from arid to semi-arid in the plateau region, sub-humid to humid tropical in the Western Ghats and humid tropical monsoon in the coastal plains.

The rainy season, driven by the southwest monsoon, is the period when Karnataka receives the majority of its annual rainfall.

Karnataka receives the vast majority of its annual rainfall during the southwest monsoon (rainy season), which accounts for approximately 80 percent of the total.

The winds coming from the southwest blow over the Indian ocean and bring lots of rains.

Kerala, which lies in the tropic region, is mostly subject to the type of humid tropical wet climate experienced by most earth's rain-forest.

Rajasthan keeps varying throughout the state. In the desert areas, it is usually hot and dry in summer and cold during the winters.  | | --- | | |

The Ganga-Brahmaputra river basin region experiences a monsoon type of climate. As is the case for a monsoon climate area, the summers are hot and the winters cool. The Ganga-Brahmaputra basin is the largest river basin in the country.

North India experiences high temperatures in summer due to the increased duration of daylight (long days) and its inland location, which lacks the moderating influence of the sea.

Convectional type of rainfall mostly found in the equatorial zone. Two causes of this type of precipitation, (1) the intense heating of the surface so as to expand and raise the lower layer of the atmosphere and (2) abundant supply of moisture in the air to provide it with a high relative humidity. This type of rainfall mainly occurs in the summer month and in the warm part of the day. This type of precipitation is of very short duration and consist of heavy showers. Convectional rainfall is less effective for crop growth than the steady rain.   

The mean annual rainfall is calculated for data collected for a long period of time (30 - 35) years because rainfall is highly variable from day today. It adequately characterizes the rainfall regime in an area and its surroundings. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recommends continuous 30-year records to calculate mean annual rainfall.

Peninsular India experience peak summers earlier when compare to north India due to the apparent northward movement of the sun, the global heat belt shifts northward. In March, the highest temperature is about 38° Celsius, recorded on the Deccan plateau. In April, temperatures in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are around 42° Celsius. In May, temperature of 45° Celsius is common in the north-western parts of the country.