Western Disturbances
Origin, Pathway, and Mechanism
Western disturbances (WDs) are extratropical cyclonic storms that originate over the Mediterranean Sea — and to a lesser extent the Caspian and Black Seas — during winter months. They are driven eastward by the subtropical westerly jet stream, picking up moisture over Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan before crossing into the Indian subcontinent. They enter India primarily through Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, releasing precipitation — rain in plains, snow in hills — as they interact with the Himalayas.
- Origin: Mediterranean Sea (eastern Mediterranean most frequently) — not the Atlantic Ocean, unlike extratropical systems affecting Europe
- Driver: subtropical westerly jet stream (located at 25°-35°N latitude in winter) carries WDs across Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan into India
- Entry points: J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand — triggering snowfall in hills and winter rainfall in plains
- Season: November to April; frequency peaks in January-February
- Precipitation type: snow at altitudes above 2,000 m; rain in Punjab, Haryana, western UP, Rajasthan plains
- 2025-26 winter anomaly: high frequency of WDs but low intensity — more systems crossed but each carried less moisture and energy, resulting in a historic precipitation deficit
● Tracked since March 06, 2026 · last seen March 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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