Monsoon

weather · seasons · wind

Winds that reverse. Monsoons are winds that blow in completely opposite directions depending on the season. In summer they blow one way and bring heavy rain, but in winter they switch and blow from a different direction entirely.

Rain like no other. When monsoons arrive, they dump enormous amounts of rain on the same regions year after year. Some monsoon areas get nearly all their yearly rain in just a few months!

Happens near the equator. Monsoons mostly affect tropical regions around the equator, especially in places like India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa and South America.

Heat makes them move. Monsoons happen because the sun heats different parts of Earth unevenly throughout the year, causing huge shifts in wind patterns and where rain falls.

Millions depend on it. Billions of people rely on monsoon rains for farming and fresh water, so when monsoons arrive on time, they celebrate!