Two satellite images have captured a major change in India's weather, showing a Western Disturbance moving across northern India as the southwest monsoon gradually retreats.
India's monsoon season is nearing its final phase, with satellite imagery showing a Western Disturbance sweeping across northern India on Friday and Saturday, while the rain-bearing clouds linked to the southwest monsoon started fading away.
Images captured by India's INSAT-3DS satellite on September 23 and September 27 highlight the changing cloud patterns over the Indian subcontinent and the gradual shift towards the post-monsoon period.
WESTERN DISTURBANCE CHANGES CLOUD PATTERNS
The September 23 image showed extensive cloud cover over northern and northeastern India. By September 27, the cloud distribution had changed significantly, with large parts of northwestern and central India appearing comparatively clear.
A Western Disturbance is an eastward-moving weather system that originates in the Mediterranean region. It can cause cloud formation, rainfall and thunderstorms across parts of northern India, especially when it interacts with moisture from other weather systems.
The Western Disturbance, interacting with a depression over central India, has contributed to rainfall in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi-NCR even as the southwest monsoon continues its withdrawal.
WHEN WILL THE MONSOON DISAPPEAR?
The southwest monsoon has already started retreating from parts of northwest India, with the withdrawal gradually extending towards central and eastern parts of the country.
Rainfall activity is expected to decline across several regions towards the end of September, with September 29 emerging as a possible turning point towards drier conditions.
However, there is no fixed date for the complete withdrawal of the monsoon from India.
The India Meteorological Department takes factors such as the cessation of rainfall, reduced atmospheric moisture and changes in wind circulation into account before declaring further withdrawal.
Even after the monsoon retreats, local weather systems can continue to produce rainfall, especially across southern and eastern India.
The satellite images highlight the seasonal transition underway as the country moves from its four-month monsoon season towards the cooler months ahead.
