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Western Disturbances Shift: Climate Change Alarms Himalayas
11 Feb
Summary
- Western Disturbances now active in pre-monsoon months, not just winter.
- Shift increases risks of flash floods and landslides in fragile mountain terrain.
- Climate warming reshapes timing, structure, and impact of weather systems.
A groundbreaking study by IIT Roorkee indicates a significant alteration in the behavior of Western Disturbances (WDs), a vital weather system for the Himalayas. These disturbances are increasingly active during the pre-monsoon season (March-May), a departure from their traditional winter role.
This seasonal shift heightens the risk of extreme weather events like flash floods and landslides in the ecologically sensitive mountainous regions. Researchers analyzing over seven decades of data observed WDs traveling longer distances, accumulating more moisture, and triggering intensified precipitation outside the typical winter window.
These findings underscore the urgent need to update climate models and disaster management strategies. The study suggests that climate warming is not only intensifying extreme weather but also reshaping large-scale atmospheric patterns. This has profound implications for water resources and disaster vulnerability across the Himalayas and adjacent areas.
