Did an unlikely Kalbaisakhi hit Delhi on Sunday? What's behind unseasonal storm
A Nor'wester, also known as Kalbaishakhi, is a severe thunderstorm that occurs primarily during the pre-monsoon season in April and May in Eastern India, normally in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, and Bihar, and also in Bangladesh.The term "Nor'wester" reflects the storm's typical movement from the northwest towards the east. While "Kalbaisakhi" is a local name that translates to "calamity of the month of Baisakh" (April–May), highlighting its destructive nature.CHARACTERISTICS OF A NOR'WESTER OR KALBAISAKHIStrong Winds: Nor'westers produce powerful straight-line winds, often exceeding 100 km/h, resembling the characteristics of a progressive derecho in some cases. Derecho is a wind pattern similar to the Tornado in which, unlike the curly winds of the Tornado, the wind moves in a straight line.Heavy Rainfall: These storms bring sudden, intense downpours, which can cause flash flooding. A similar kind of rain was witnessed in Delhi NCR late last night, around 2 am.advertisementHail and Tornadoes: Some Nor'westers produce hail or, rarely, tornadoes, adding to their destructive potential.Bow Echoes: On radar, they often show a bow-shaped pattern, indicative of organised convective systems.DIFFERENT FACTORS CAUSED RAIN IN DELHI-NCRSunday night's intense rainfall and thunderstorm activity with a high wind speed in Delhi-NCR could be linked to pre-monsoon weather systems. Multiple factors are working at the same time, which brought the entire system from Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir to parts of Uttar Pradesh via Delhi-NCR.HERE ARE THE FOUR FACTORS RESPONSIBLE:Western Disturbances: These are low-pressure systems originating from the Mediterranean region that can bring unseasonal rain to northern India, including Delhi-NCR. In May, they can interact with local heat and moisture, leading to thunderstorms and heavy rain. Here, a western disturbance combined with moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal caused significant rainfall in the region.Cyclonic Circulations: Upper air cyclonic circulations over nearby areas like Rajasthan or Haryana triggered convective activity. A cyclonic circulation over Haryana and Punjab, fuelled by moisture from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, led to the spelling of heavy rain and hailstorms in Delhi-NCR. A similar system caused rain a few days ago earlier this week.advertisementConvective Systems: Intense heat in the plains, combined with high humidity and moisture influx, created convective systems characterised by rapid upward movement of warm, moist air. A convective system over Northwest India moved southeast, causing thunderstorms.Monsoon Trough Influence: By late May, the monsoon trough also started influencing northern India, enhancing moisture influx and leading to pre-monsoon showers. The monsoon trough passes south of its normal position, increasing moisture and contributing to stormy weather in the region.A combination of these factors—potentially a western disturbance, cyclonic circulation, or convective activity fuelled by heat and moisture—caused the intense rain.Must Watch
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Hindustan Times
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Time of India
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- Time of India
High humidity makes life uncomfortable for people
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