Question

Give reasons for the following.

Chennai has more rainy months than Mumbai.

Answer 1

1. The Winter “Retreating” Monsoon: During the winter months (October to December), wind patterns in India reverse. The Northeast Monsoon winds blow from land to sea, not vice versa.
2. Moisture from the Bay of Bengal: While most Northeast Monsoon winds travel over land and are dry, those that blow across the Bay of Bengal gather up a lot of moisture. When these moisture-laden winds hit India's eastern coast, particularly the Coromandel Coast, where Chennai is located, they bring severe rainfall.
3. The Rain Shadow Effect in Summer: During the summer, India receives rain from the Southwest Monsoon winds, which originate in the Arabian Sea. However, the Western Ghats mountain range deflects these winds. By the time the winds pass the mountains and reach the eastern side of the peninsula (where Chennai is located), they have lost the majority of their moisture.
4. Winds Blow Parallel to the Coast in Summer: In addition, the branch of the Southwest Monsoon that goes up the Bay of Bengal blows nearly parallel to the Coromandel Coast. Because the winds do not directly touch the coast, they do not bring much rain to Chennai during the summer months.