Southwest Monsoon
Explanation
India’s climate is designated as a "Monsoon type" climate. The annual rainfall distribution in India is highly seasonal, with the majority of precipitation concentrated in a specific period driven by the reversal of wind patterns.
Detailed Analysis:
- Southwest Monsoon (June to September): This season is also known as the season of the advancing monsoon. It accounts for approximately 75% of the total annual rainfall in India. The winds blow from the oceanic high-pressure areas towards the low-pressure area over the Indian subcontinent, carrying abundant moisture.
- Winter (January to February): This season is generally dry across most of the country, except for precipitation caused by Western Disturbances in the north and some rainfall in the southern peninsula. It contributes a very small percentage to the annual total.
- Summer (March to May): This is the pre-monsoon season. While it witnesses local storms and showers (e.g., Mango Showers, Kalbaisakhi), the total volume of rainfall is significantly lower than the monsoon season.
- Retreating Monsoon (October to November): This season marks the transition from the rainy season to the dry winter conditions. While it brings significant rainfall to the Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu), its contribution to the all-India annual total is much less than the Southwest Monsoon.
Key Takeaway:
The Southwest Monsoon is the primary rainy season in India, delivering the vast majority of the country's annual precipitation between June and September.