Q1. Consider the following statements about Western Disturbances:
1. They occur only during winter months (November–March).
2. They can cause hailstorms during pre-monsoon months.
3. They originate in the extratropical region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 2 and 3 only
• (c) 1 and 3 only
• (d) 1, 2, and 3
Q2. The Kedarnath disaster of 2013 was associated with which meteorological phenomenon alongside a cloudburst?
• (a) A Bay of Bengal depression
• (b) An active Western Disturbance interacting with the monsoon
• (c) An Arabian Sea cyclone
• (d) A tropical heat low
Q3. Dense fog events over Indo-Gangetic plain during winter are closely associated with:
• (a) La Niña conditions
• (b) Western Disturbances causing temperature inversion
• (c) Northeast monsoon withdrawal
• (d) El Niño–Southern Oscillation
Q4. Which of the following mountain ranges acts as the primary orographic barrier that triggers precipitation from Western Disturbances?
• (a) Aravalli Range
• (b) Eastern Ghats
• (c) Hindu Kush–Karakoram–Himalayan system
• (d) Vindhya–Satpura Range
Q5. With reference to climate change and Western Disturbances, which of the following impacts has been observed or projected?
• (a) More frequent but less intense WDs
• (b) Complete disappearance of WDs by 2050
• (c) Increased erratic and intense WD events affecting glacier dynamics
• (d) Southward shift of WDs causing increased rainfall over the Deccan
Answers with explanations
A1. (b) 2 and 3 only Statement 1 is incorrect — WDs are NOT limited to winter; they occur during pre-monsoon months too, causing hailstorms. Statement 2 is correct — pre-monsoon WDs are a leading cause of hailstorms. Statement 3 is correct — they originate in the extratropical Mediterranean region.
A2. (b) An active Western Disturbance interacting with the monsoon The 2013 Kedarnath disaster involved an unusual interaction between an active WD and the advancing monsoon, causing extreme precipitation over the Mandakini valley. This convergence of two systems amplified rainfall far beyond normal monsoon levels.
A3. (b) Western Disturbances causing temperature inversion WDs bring warm, moist air at higher altitudes over the cold surface layer of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, creating temperature inversions that trap moisture near the surface and generate dense fog. This phenomenon peaks in January and causes massive disruption to transport networks.
A4. (c) Hindu Kush–Karakoram–Himalayan system This mountain wall forces the westerly system upward (orographic uplift), cooling the air and causing precipitation — snow over the higher reaches, rain over the foothills and plains. The Aravallis are too low to intercept WDs effectively.
A5. (c) Increased erratic and intense WD events affecting glacier dynamics Climate research, including studies from IMD and international climate models, indicates that warming in the Mediterranean and West Asia is altering the moisture content and behaviour of WDs — leading to more unpredictable, intense events. This is causing accelerated and uneven snowfall patterns over the Himalayas, with implications for glacier mass balance and river hydrology.
