|
Climate
These islands have a tropical humid, warm and pleasant climate, becoming more
equatorial in the southern islands of the territory. The climate is equable with
no distinct, well marked seasons. Southwest monsoon period is the chief rainy
season which lasts from late May to early October. The rainfall in the southern
islands is more evenly distributed than over the north island. The number of
rainy days during the southwest monsoon season is more in the north than in the
south..
Temperatures are generally uniform over the territory, increasing but slightly
from South to North. April and May are the hottest months in the year.
Summer temperatures range from 35 Degrees CeDuring fair weather the days are warm and stuffy due to humidity. Nights are
generally pleasant because of the cool sea breeze.
Winds are light to moderate during October to March or April. Towards late
Summer, winds begin to strengthen and continue to be strong in the southwest
monsoon season. Northerly or North-Easterly winds prevail during the months of
December to February.
Cyclones
The Cyclonic storms have deposited coral debris forming coral beach and the
lagoons. The islands are thus open to storms and cyclones. One of the earliest
natural calamities was the great storm on April 15, 1847. All the houses in
Andrott, Kiltan Kalpeni were damaged and many were entirely washed away.
In 1891, a violent storm burst upon Kavaratti island causing considerable
damage to coconut trees. The storm did a great deal of damage in Agatii
and its attached islets and the Amindivi group of islands. Kalpeni island was
hit by a severe cyclone on December 1, 1922. The sea poured across the
island into the lagoon. In 1941 another major storm hit the islands and
Kavaratti was the most affected by the storm. In 1963, a cyclone of mild
intensity struck Andrott island uprooting many coconut trees. The major storm
was in December 1965 which cause considerable damage in Andrott and Kalpeni
islands uprooting a large number of coconut trees.
Storms
Some of the cyclonic depression and storms which form in the South Arabian
Sea during April-May affect the weather of Lakshadweep. During the months of
October to December a few of such systems originating in the Bay of Bengal and
moving westwards emerge into the South Arabian Sea and some times affect these
islands resulting in strong wind and heavy rains.
|
