Rajasthan

• 20 Jan 2025

Western Disturbance in Rajasthan

Why in News? 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that a Western Disturbance will become active over Rajasthan on 21^st January, 2025.  

Key Points 

• This weather system is expected to bring light rainfall to the north-western and north-eastern regions of the state.  
  • Consequently, the IMD has issued a warning for these areas. 
• Western Disturbances: 
  • Western disturbances are storms that originate in the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea, and bring non-monsoonal rainfall to northwest India, according to the IMD. 
  • They are labelled as an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean, is an area of low pressure that brings sudden showers, snow and fog in northwest India.  
  • The meaning of WD lies in its name.  
    • The disturbance travels from the “western” to the eastern direction.  
      • These travel eastwards on high-altitude westerly jet streams - massive ribbons of fast winds traversing the earth from west to east.  
    • Disturbance means an area of “disturbed” or reduced air pressure.  
      • Equilibrium exists in nature due to which the air in a region tries to normalise its pressure.