1. India’s Summer and Winter Monsoon Seasons
Most of the rain in India comes from the summer monsoon rains.
The word "monsoon“ originated from the Arabic word mausim which means seasonal winds.
The two monsoon seasons are the “summer” south-west monsoon and the “winter” north-east monsoon.
The summer south-west monsoon is from May to September.
The winter north-east monsoon is from October to December.
What climate zone is India in? How many seasons does India have?
During the winter monsoon, what part of India is the driest? How many inches of rainfall does it receive?

2. Summer Monsoon Development
The summer monsoon brings winds from the southwest which heat up over the land.
The moisture filled air rises, leading to cloud formation and precipitation.
The clouds are too heavy to go over the
Himalayas, therefore the rain falls south of India’s higher elevations in the north.

3. The summer monsoon winds brings rain from June - September.
The winter monsoon winds bring dry air from the north from Oct. - Dec. .

4. SW NE The Summer Wet Monsoon
Winds blowing from the southwest between May and September bring rain. SW NE
The Winter Dry Monsoon
Winds blowing from the northeast between October and April bring dry winds that can cause major droughts.

5. Agriculture and Monsoons

6. Monsoon Rainfall
The beginning and end of the rainy monsoon season are critical to crop production.
Rainfall during the summer monsoon varies from year to year, season to season, and even on a daily basis.

7. The summer monsoon season has a direct impact on India’s food production and therefore, the economy. Too much rain can drown the plants and too little rain will also kill the plants.
Summer Monsoon Rain Totals

9. The average rainfall for India per year is 44 inches
The average rainfall for India per year is 44 inches. Out of this, 35 inches comes during the summer monsoon.