Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.

What are the important How many distinct seasons are found in India as per the Indian Meteorological Department? Discuss the weather conditions associated with any one season in detail.

The Indian Meteorological Department has identified the following seasons in the country:

• The Cold Weather Season

• The Hot Weather Season

• The South-West Monsoon

• The Retreating Monsoon

The Cold Weather Season:

• Arrival: The Cold Weather arrives in mid-November. December and January are the coldest months in the plains, with mean temperatures below 21 degrees.

• Cause: There are three primary causes for the cold wave in North India: (1) lack of moderating influence of sea, (2) snowfall in Himalayas and (3) Westerly winds from Caspian Seas

• Effects on Peninsular Region: There is no demarcated cold weather season due to the moderating influence of the seas.

• Rainfall: As the monsoon winds move from land to sea, they do not cause any rainfall. However, there is rainfall in some parts of the country: (1) North-western India experiences rainfall due to temperate cyclones of West Asia and (2) Tamil Nadu and southern Andhra Pradesh experiences rainfall due to north-east monsoon.