Climate: Diverse
Annual Rainfall
 |
|
|
Bihar's weather can be divided into four segments: summer, winter, monsoon and post monsoon. Find out detailed information on climate of Bihar
Bihar Weather
- Bihar Plateau: 1326 mm
- Bihar Plains: 1186 mm
Located in the eastern part of India, Bihar is a state with rich cultural heritage and is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. Climate is one of the major reasons that made Bihar a major agricultural hub, which might had made people inhabit this region in ancient times. Because of its geographical location, its climate is greatly influenced by the Himalayas and Ganga plateau. Bihar's climatic conditions can be divided into four segments: summer, winter, monsoon and post monsoon. Winter season is marked with low temperatures which may be as low as 5-10�C degrees whereas summer is marked with high temperature and a characteristic hot wind 'loo'. Bihar gets a reasonable good rainfall that contributes much to the agriculture and fisheries sectors. People in Bihar and their lifestyle are much adapted to the climatic conditions. Read the following section of this article to know more about the climatic conditions of Bihar.
Summer
Summer starts from April and lasts up to the middle of June. Temperature rises from the pleasant March weather (mean temperature about 24�C) due to westerly winds. Days in April are considerably hot with an average temperature of 30�C. Temperature reaches the heights during May with an average temperature of about 35 �C (it may reach as high as 42�C or more), which makes it the hottest month in the whole year. Summer in Bihar, just like most of the North Indian States, is marked with dust-storms and thunder-storms. Dust storms usually occur in May and most of them have a velocity of about 48-64 km/hr. They are most frequent in May while April and Junes shares the lower ranks. Hot winds called 'Loo" blows through the Bihar plains during April and May with an average velocity of 8-16 km/hour. 'Loo' is more like heat waves and causes considerable discomfort for the people there. Rainfall during summer is scanty, with an average of 45mm.
Monsoon
Monsoon starts by mid-June and lasts till end of September. Temperature drops with the advent of Monsoon but, the humidity increases. Monsoon commences when the 'monsoon wind' from Bay of Bengal passes over Bihar. Though the season begins at June, depending upon the arrival of Monsoon wind it may come as early as last week of May or as late as first or second week of July. July and August generally receive maximum rainfall. Monsoon rainfall is gifted by the south west monsoon. The oppressive heat of the rainy season may persist till August. Average precipitation during June is about 185.5mm, which rises to an average of about 340mm in July. It drops down again in August to an average of about 259mm. There are three distinct areas in Bihar which receives high precipitation, more than 1800mm/annum. Two of these regions lie on northern and north-western wings of Bihar and the third region lies on the Netarhat pat in the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Monsoon is accountable for more than 90% of the total rainfall in Bihar. The average temperature is about 31�C. The south-west monsoon that causes rainfall in Bihar generally withdraws in the first week of October.
Post Monsoon
The retreat of Monsoon pave path to the invasion of tropical cyclones to rush into the state. These cyclones originate in the Bay of Bengal at about 12�N Latitude. Bihar is influenced by the typhoons which originate in the South China Sea. The months of September and October are marked with the frequency of the tropical cyclones in Bihar. These cyclones have great influence in Bihar's agricultural sector. These cyclones are considered essential for the maturing of paddy. Also, they help in moistening of the soil making it suitable for the cultivation of Rabi crops. The average temperature during these months is about 27�C. Bihar continues receiving precipitation during this period as well. It may receive an average precipitation of 240 mm in September, while in October it drops down to about 39mm.
Winter
Winters start in early November and extends up to mid-March. Days are cold yet pleasant with warm sun and bright light but, temperature falls as soon as the sun sets. Nights are generally colder than days. The mean temperature in November is about 21�C, while in December it may drop down to an average of 17�C. Temperature falls still down in January, which marks the coldest month in the whole year. Average temperature in the month of January is about 16�C, though it may drop down to 4�C-10 �C. Days in March are generally pleasant. Bihar receives little rain during winter, with an average of about 3-4mm.
Summer
Summer starts from April and lasts up to the middle of June. Temperature rises from the pleasant March weather (mean temperature about 24�C) due to westerly winds. Days in April are considerably hot with an average temperature of 30�C. Temperature reaches the heights during May with an average temperature of about 35 �C (it may reach as high as 42�C or more), which makes it the hottest month in the whole year. Summer in Bihar, just like most of the North Indian States, is marked with dust-storms and thunder-storms. Dust storms usually occur in May and most of them have a velocity of about 48-64 km/hr. They are most frequent in May while April and Junes shares the lower ranks. Hot winds called 'Loo" blows through the Bihar plains during April and May with an average velocity of 8-16 km/hour. 'Loo' is more like heat waves and causes considerable discomfort for the people there. Rainfall during summer is scanty, with an average of 45mm.
Monsoon
Monsoon starts by mid-June and lasts till end of September. Temperature drops with the advent of Monsoon but, the humidity increases. Monsoon commences when the 'monsoon wind' from Bay of Bengal passes over Bihar. Though the season begins at June, depending upon the arrival of Monsoon wind it may come as early as last week of May or as late as first or second week of July. July and August generally receive maximum rainfall. Monsoon rainfall is gifted by the south west monsoon. The oppressive heat of the rainy season may persist till August. Average precipitation during June is about 185.5mm, which rises to an average of about 340mm in July. It drops down again in August to an average of about 259mm. There are three distinct areas in Bihar which receives high precipitation, more than 1800mm/annum. Two of these regions lie on northern and north-western wings of Bihar and the third region lies on the Netarhat pat in the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Monsoon is accountable for more than 90% of the total rainfall in Bihar. The average temperature is about 31�C. The south-west monsoon that causes rainfall in Bihar generally withdraws in the first week of October.
Post Monsoon
The retreat of Monsoon pave path to the invasion of tropical cyclones to rush into the state. These cyclones originate in the Bay of Bengal at about 12�N Latitude. Bihar is influenced by the typhoons which originate in the South China Sea. The months of September and October are marked with the frequency of the tropical cyclones in Bihar. These cyclones have great influence in Bihar's agricultural sector. These cyclones are considered essential for the maturing of paddy. Also, they help in moistening of the soil making it suitable for the cultivation of Rabi crops. The average temperature during these months is about 27�C. Bihar continues receiving precipitation during this period as well. It may receive an average precipitation of 240 mm in September, while in October it drops down to about 39mm.
Winter
Winters start in early November and extends up to mid-March. Days are cold yet pleasant with warm sun and bright light but, temperature falls as soon as the sun sets. Nights are generally colder than days. The mean temperature in November is about 21�C, while in December it may drop down to an average of 17�C. Temperature falls still down in January, which marks the coldest month in the whole year. Average temperature in the month of January is about 16�C, though it may drop down to 4�C-10 �C. Days in March are generally pleasant. Bihar receives little rain during winter, with an average of about 3-4mm.
