Introduction
After weeks of humidity and heat, it felt as though the universe had flipped a switch overnight. The summer-like stickiness gave way to crisp air, and by morning, winter had taken over Hyderabad with no warning at all.
A Sudden Descent into Cold
What could be the reason for this sudden overnight onslaught of winter? Other than at Kedarnath temple, I have never seen a weather change as quick and sudden as this one in my life — perhaps. As late as yesterday morning, I was wondering how strange it was to have monsoon rains prolong this far into the second week of November.
Yesterday afternoon on the seventh, finally there was a chilly cool breeze, which, even if it were light, did resemble a winter breeze. But today morning, it does feel like a typical winter morning. After several months, I finally have a surge of energy and was eager to get up early from bed.
Lingering Rains and the Mystery Behind Them
The question is — what took so long for the rains to stop? Even my 86-year-old mom confirmed the other day that it never happened earlier in her life that rains continued this far into the season.
The summer was mild, which may have resulted in slow evaporation of sea water. And also a prolonged sun absence — the sun was not hot or seen for several days. In theory, that should have meant a long sea evaporation phase.
Of course, it is possible that the clouds in my region were blocking the sun. It’s very much possible that summer sun was prolonged over sea and the clouds have now moved away towards landmass in our area.
If my logic is right, that may explain why rains continued so far, although it still doesn’t explain why summer was longer than usual over the sea. Being into winter proper, landmass must be farther to sun and thus colder. The cool landmass helped precipitate the clouds. But why prolonged sun over sea? I don’t know.
Thunder, Lightning, and a Sudden Shift
With all that, I wonder — why such a sudden onslaught of winter? Just two days back, there was a tremendous storm. The thunders were so strong and loud, it felt like the first rainfall at the end of summer.
High humid breeze met hot air, loud ones, and the lightning and thunders striking. Lucky my skin hadn’t dried up overnight. But this morning does feel like a typical winter morning. Such sudden changes in weather are unfathomable.
Science, Nature, and Uncertainty
Nature and the universe are so complex. Science over a period of time does explain many things. But with fair confidence, I can assure science has good answers for results we see — and equally so, even if an opposite result is seen! What can I say!!
Science has to be one that proposes a theory, proves practically that it was right, and also guarantees it is so for future. Yet, I don’t get the same level of confidence when it comes to the study of astronomy.
Black holes were proposed and then threatened and accepted again. Ether was proposed and no one talks about it today. Variables in the universe are way too many — and astronomical in their impact too.
Something closer home for us here on earth is weather. We have been studying it for decades, yet not accurate at all times. Science is that which guarantees result every time — not so in this case.
Weather: A Deeper Enigma
Aren’t we largely relying on statistical models for weather than understanding deeper — perhaps from well above earth on what is happening, or from the surface itself — to understand the effect of human doings here on weather overall?
That, perhaps, is where the mystery still lives.
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