Western Cyclonic Disturbances
Western cyclonic disturbances are low pressure systems which originate from the Mediterranean Sea region, After originating, it migrate towards the Indian subcontinent under the influence of westerly jet streams, causing disruption in the form of cyclones, particularly in the north western states of the subcontinent, namely Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Cloud cover and heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh are a direct consequence of these western disturbances. These extratropical storms enter the Indian territory with the moisture brought all along from their origin from the Mediterranean Sea, Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. This rainfall is not only very crucial for the desert parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, which get much needed respite from their dry and arid conditions, but also for the states of Punjab and Haryana, since it helps to replenish the moisture content of the soil and facilitate good cropping patterns. Furthermore, the cloud cover as a result of these disturbances, helps to lower the temperatures throughout the summer thus benefiting the people employed in the agricultural sector.
Western Cyclonic Disturbances
Western cyclonic disturbances or extra tropical cyclones are weather phenomena which play a very vital role in influencing the Indian climate, since they provide much needed precipitation in the winter. Western cyclonic disturbances basically originate in the Mediterranean region and then move towards India by impacting the areas in between.