Climate and Monsoons

Most of South Asia has three seasons—cool,
hot, and rainy. The higher elevations are usually
cooler. However, most of southern India is hot
all year round. Southeast Asia’s climate has less
variety. It is hot and rainy.
The period from June through September is,
generally, monsoon season. A monsoon is a
seasonal wind that blows over the northern part
of the Indian Ocean. In South Asia, heavy
monsoon rains fall from June through October.
November through February is mostly cool and
dry. Because March through late May is hot and
humid, the monsoon rains in June bring great
relief. In India, school starts in June, and is
closed during the spring when it is very hot.
In Southeast Asia, summer lasts from April
to September when heavy monsoon rains fall.
The winter is cool and dry, and lasts from
October to March.
If the monsoons come too early, farmers
don’t have time to plant seeds. If the rains never
arrive or are late, the crops fail. Sometimes the
monsoons bring severe flooding.