“Western Disturbances” to blame for the extra chill in the air

GANGTOK, 17 Feb: The ‘extratropical storm’ originating in the Mediterranean, that brings sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent, called the Western Disturbance is behind the sudden dip in temperatures for the past few days.
The Western Disturbance has moved towards East India, leaving a trough line in the foothills of the Himalayas. The cyclonic circulation will persist over the northeastern states for another 24 hours and move away thereafter.
The Western Disturbance is a non-monsoon precipitation pattern driven by the Westerlies. The moisture in these storms usually originates over the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Extratropical storms are a global, rather than a localized, phenomena with moisture usually carried in the upper atmosphere (unlike tropical storms where it is carried in the lower atmosphere). In the case of India, moisture is sometimes shed as rain when the storm system encounters the Himalayas.
This is what is causing the rain and the cold we are experiencing here in Sikkim. However, it is expected that temperatures will rise in the coming days. Expect pretty cloudy weather and some more rain tomorrow though. Interestingly, despite the chill that it brings with it the Western Disturbances are important to the development of the Rabi crop in North India.

Winter’s here

GANGTOK, 13 Dec: Woolen caps and heaters have been forced out of hibernation as the cold has finally arrived. Maximum temperature remained 2 degrees below normal today while minimum temperature remained normal over most of the stations in Sikkim.
The last 24 hours [as of 8:30 this morning] recorded maximum temperature of 12.2 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 7 degree Celsius in Gangtok.
Mangan recorded a maximum temperature of 13.4 degree Celsius and minimum temperature of 7.1 degree Celsius. In Namchi, maximum temperature recorded was 16.4 degree Celsius while minimum temperature was 8.7 degree Celsius.
In West Sikkim, the maximum temperature recorded today was 14.7 degree Celsius while minimum temperature was 7.2 degree Celsius.
The Met department’s forecast for the next 24 hours indicates generally cloudy skies with light rain. Valley fog could occur in some areas while the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 09°C and 06°C respectively.