Climate
The south-west and retreating monsoon
Describe the two branches of the monsoon and the retreat.
The burst brings sudden rain and a 5-8 °C drop in temperature.
Arabian Sea branch: Western Ghats (250-400 cm, rain shadow beyond), Narmada-Tapi valleys, Saurashtra-Kachchh.
Bay of Bengal branch: deflected by the Arakan hills; up the Ganga plains and the Brahmaputra valley; Mawsynram.
The Tamil Nadu coast stays dry: parallel to the Bay branch and in the rain shadow of the Arabian Sea branch.
Retreat in October-November: clear skies, 'October heat', cyclones and rain on the east coast.
Two branches bring the rain; the retreat brings it to Tamil Nadu.
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