Bring out the Significant Local Storms of the Hot Weather Season in Country and their Socio-Economic Impact.

The Pre-monsoon season in India comprising of the months of March-May is known as Hot weather or summer season. The temperatures, particularly the maximum, during this season are very high over most parts of the country especially over central and northwest India.

During this season, northwest and adjoining central India is usually affected by dust storms locally known as ‘ANDHI’ adding to the discomfort. Sometimes these may be so forceful that they can disrupt the lives of the people by uprooting houses, trees, telephone and electricity poles, etc.

Another hot, dry wind, named ‘Loo’ that blows in Northern plains. It is very common in Bihar, Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. It makes life miserable for the people. The heat wave takes its toll and many people die because of it. ‘Kalbaisakhi’ or calamity of the month of Baisakh is a dry local wind of west Bengal, Assam, Bangladesh and parts of Orissa and Bihar during summer season.

Originating from the Chhota Nagpur plateau and influenced by the westerlies, this warm wind moves eastwards and is responsible for heavy rain and hailstones in West Bengal, Assam and Orissa. These winds also known as ‘Northwesters’, cause destruction to life and property many a time. Apart from its destructive effects like sudden rise in wind speed, lighting, thunder and hail the rainfall associated with the storm although small in amount, is extremely helpful for the pre-kharif crops like jute, Aus paddy. Summer fil and a large number of vegetables and fruits.

This is good for the tea crop in Assam and the jute and rice in West Bengal. In Assam these storms are called ‘Bordoichila’. Also a sudden drop in temperature gives relief after the mod-day heat. ‘Mango showers’ occurs along the coast of Kerala. The showers prevent the mangoes from dropping prematurely from trees and are crucial for the mango cultivation in South India. ‘Cherry Blossom’ or ‘Coffee showers’ is a local wind that blows over the interior Karnataka during the hot weather season and is extremely helpful for coffee cultivation.

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