Meteorological Department Issues Warning in Madhya Pradesh

• 16 Apr 2024

Why in News?

The Meteorological Department in Madhya Pradesh has issued a warning for 15 districts. Over the past few days, the state has experienced storms, rain, and hailstorms in various areas.

Key Points

• Due to western disturbance, cyclonic circulation and trough line, a strong system is active in the state. There may be more activity of two western disturbances in the coming days. Due to this, rain and hail are expected.
  • The Meteorological Department has also issued advisory for the people.

Western Disturbances

• These are a series of cyclonic storms that originate in the Mediterranean region, travel over 9,000 km to bring winter rains to northwest India.
  • A Western Disturbance collects moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, and Caspian Sea and traverses over Iran and Afghanistan before hitting the western Himalayas.
• Western Disturbances are the primary source of snowfall that replenishes the Himalayan glaciers during winter.
• These glaciers feed major Himalayan rivers like the Ganga, Indus and Yamuna as well as myriad mountain springs and rivulets.

Monsoon Trough

• A trough is a belt of low pressure extending to a large area. This trough is seen during monsoon period, hence known as Monsoon trough.
• Monsoon trough is a part of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere winds meet.
• This is normally shown as a line connecting the location of monsoon low pressure areas. These troughs run across continents during peak monsoon periods.