Seasons-The climate of the district is characterised by a hot summer and general dryness throughout the year except during the southwest monsoon season. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season from December to February is followed by the hot season from March to May. The period from June to September constitutes the southwest monsoon season. October and November forms the post-monsoon season.

Rainfall-The district has only one raingauge station at Aurangabad with records extending to 70 years. The details of rainfall at this station and for the district are given in Tables 2 and 3. The average annual rainfall in Aurangabad is 725.8 mm (28.57''). Seven other raingauge stations were started in 1951. The average annual rainfall in the district, taking into consideration all the stations (based on 9 years' data from 1951), is found to be slightly lower than the rainfall at Aurangabad. The description that follows is based on the rainfall data of Aurangabad only. About 83 per cent of the annual rainfall is received during June to September. July is the rainiest month. Some amount of rainfall occurs during May, October and November and is mainly in the form of thundershowers. The variation in the annual rainfall from year to year is large. During the fortynine year period from 1902 to 1950 the highest annual rainfall which was 161 per cent of the normal occurred in 1916 while the lowest annual rainfall which was only 37 per cent of the normal occurred in 1920. During the same fortynine years the rainfall was less than 80 per cent of the normal in 12 years, such low rainfall having been recorded once each on two, three and even four consecutive years. The annual rainfall at Aurangabad was between 500 and 1000 mm (19.69 and 39.37'') in 36 years out of fortynine.

On an average there are 46 rainy days (i.e., days with rainfall of 2.5 mm-10 cents-or more) in a year at Aurangabad.

 The heaviest rainfall recorded in 24 hours at Aurangabad was 245.1 mm (9.65") on 22nd September 1891.

 Temperature.-There is a meteorological observatory in the district at Aurangabad and the records of this observatory may be taken as representative of the meteorological conditions prevailing in the district in general. Cold weather commences by about the end of November when temperatures begin to fall rapidly. December is the coldest month of the year with the mean daily maximum temperature at 28.7° C (83.7° F) and the mean daily minimum at 13° C (55.9° F). In the cold season the district is sometimes affected by cold waves in association with the eastward passage of western disturbances across north India, when the minimum temperature may drop down to about 2° C to 4° C (35.6° F to 39.2° F).

From the beginning of the month of March there is a rapid rise in both day and night temperatures. May is the hottest month of the year with the mean daily maximum temperature at 39.8° C (103.6° F) and the mean daily minimum at 24.4° C (75.9° F). During the hot season the heat is often intense and the day temperatures on individual days may rise to about 45° C to 46° C (11.10° F to 1.14.8° F). There is relief from the heat on some days when thundershowers occur during the afternoons. With the advance of the southwest monsoon into the district by about the second week of June there is an appreciable drop in both the day and night temperatures and the weather is pleasant. With the withdrawal of the monsoon by about the end of September the day temperatures increase a little and a secondary maximum in day temperature is recorded in October. But night temperatures decrease progressively after the withdrawal of the monsoon. After October both day and night temperatures steadily decrease.

 The highest maximum temperature ever recorded at Aurangabad was 45.6° C (114.0° F) on 25th May 1905. The lowest minimum temperature was 22° C on 2nd February 1911.

Humidity-Except during the southwest monsoon season when the relative humidities are high, the air is generally dry over the district. The summer months are the driest when the relative humidities are generally between 20 and 25 per cent in the afternoons.

 Cloudiness-During the southwest monsoon season the skies are generally heavily clouded or overcast. In the rest of the year the skies are mostly clear or slightly clouded.

Winds.-Winds are generally light to moderate with increase in speed during the latter half of the hot season and in the monsoon season. The winds blow predominantly from directions between west and north during the hot season. They are mostly from directions between southwest and northwest during the southwest monsoon season. They blow mostly from the directions between northeast and southeast during the rest of the year.

Special weather phenomena.- Thunderstorms occur in all months of the year. They occur more frequently during April to June and from September to October. Duststorms occur sometimes during the summer afternoons.

Tables 4, 5 and 6 give the temperature and humidity, mean wind speed and special weather phenomena, respectively for Aurangabad.

(a) Normal rainfall in mm.

  (b) Average number of rainy days (days with rain of 2. 5 mm or more).

* Based on all available data upto 1960.

* Years given in brackets.

TABLE No. 3

FREQUENCY OF ANNUAL RAINFALL IN THE DISTRICT

(Data 1901-1950)

* (Data available for 49 years only)

TABLE No. 4

NORMALS OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY

(AURANGABAD)

TABLE No. 5

MEAN WIND SPEED IN KM/HR

(AURANGABAD)

TABLE No. 6

SPECIAL WEATHER PHENOMENA

(AURANGABAD)