True or False: December and January are the warmest months in northern India.

False; they are the coldest months.

Fill in the blank: The topography of the region influences the wind direction, becoming ___ in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.

Northerly

Winter monsoons in India primarily do not cause rainfall because they move from ___ to ___.

Land to the sea

True or False: Most parts of India receive significant rainfall during the winter months due to high humidity.

False. Most parts of India do not receive significant rainfall during winter because winter monsoons have little humidity.

What role do weak temperate cyclones from the Mediterranean Sea play in the winter climate of northwestern India?

They cause meager but beneficial rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, which is important for Rabi crops.

Fill in the blank: The flow of water in the Himalayan rivers during summer is sustained by the ___ that falls in the lower Himalayas during winter.

Snow

In which months does the temperature in north India typically rise, indicating the hot weather season?

March, April, May, and June

True or False: The highest day temperature of about 48°C is commonly recorded in the Deccan Plateau during the summer months.

False. Temperatures around 48°C are commonly recorded in the north-western part of India, not specifically in the Deccan Plateau.

What is the significance of the ITCZ during the hot weather season in India?

The ITCZ attracts surface circulation of winds, leading to the southwesterly winds on the west coast and easterly winds over north Bengal and Bihar, contributing to the monsoon dynamics.

Fill in the blank: Dust storms in the evening during May are common in ___, ___, Eastern Rajasthan, and ___, providing a respite from oppressive heat.

Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

What atmospheric conditions lead to local storms of great intensity during the hot weather season?

A sudden contact between dry and moist air masses gives rise to local storms associated with violent winds, torrential rains, and even hailstorms.

Mango showers in Kerala are primarily associated with the early ripening of ___ and are common during the ___ season.

Mangoes; pre-monsoon

True or False: Norwesters are beneficial for rice cultivation in Bengal and Assam.

True

The winds that bring about the southwest monsoon are known as ___ due to their direction.

Southeast trade winds

Fill in the blank: The first rain of the southwest monsoon often leads to a substantial drop in ___.

Temperature

What are the two main branches of the southwest monsoon that approach the Indian landmass?

The Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch

True or False: The term 'Kalbaisakhi' refers to the calm and gentle winds that occur during the monsoon.

False; 'Kalbaisakhi' refers to severe thunderstorms.

Fill in the blank: The hot, dry winds known as ___ blow across the Northern plains from Punjab to Bihar.

Loo

The Western Ghats significantly affect the monsoon winds by causing heavy rainfall primarily on their ___ side.

Windward