Nor’westers

Current Context: India’s first research testbed to study Nor’westers getting ready.

• Aim : to study thunderstorms from the formation stage, growth, and propagation over eastern parts of the country.
• This will be done using meteorological instruments, drones, and other equipment that will aid in the systematic tracking of thunderstorms.
• Thunderstorm research testbed to be equipped with drones, 100-metre flux tower and high-end instruments and will cover a large area adjoining West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), Delhi, will jointly develop and use this facility.
• The control centre will be at Chandbali in the Bhadrak district of Odisha.

ABOUT NOR’WESTERS :

• Nor’westers also known as Kalbaishakhi are severe thunderstorms that occur during the pre-monsoon season (March to May) in Bangladesh and the Indian states of Bihar, Tripura, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• They are often very violent with squall.
• Speed : 60 to 80 km per hour.
• They cause heavy damage to standing crops, trees, buildings, livestock and even lead to loss of human lives.

These storms are known as ‘Barodoli Chheerha’ in Assam.