Geography Prelims and Mains

Nor'wester (Kalbaisakhi) are violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms occurring in eastern and northeastern India, especially in West Bengal, Assam, and Bangladesh.

Key Features:

Occur during March–May.

Characterized by strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and hailstorms.

Move from northwest to southeast, hence the name Nor’wester.

Important for cooling temperatures and helping crops like jute and rice.

Examples similar to Nor'wester:

Mango showers – Kerala and Karnataka

Cherry Blossom showers – Karnataka

Haboob – Sudan

Santa Ana winds – California