Monsoon likely to start over Kerala today: IMD forecast

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said conditions are favorable for the onset of monsoon over Kerala on Thursday, two days ahead of its regular schedule, due to an increase in rainfall across the state due to the strengthening of southwesterly winds.

 The weather summary issued at 8.30 am on Thursday said, “Conditions are favorable for the onset of southwest monsoon on June 3, due to strengthening of southwesterly winds and spatial extension of rain over Kerala.” IMD is yet to officially announce the onset of monsoon in India. To announce the onset, the Meteorological Department follows standard norms, one of which is that 14 or more meteorological stations in Kerala must record rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days after May 10. Further, based on observations, due to strengthening of westerly winds and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) along Kerala coast,

According to the latest forecast, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep will receive heavy rainfall till June 5. Apart from the increase in rainfall intensity, another sign in favor of the onset of monsoon is the strengthening of westerly winds from Arabian Sea towards land. “Gust wind speed reaching 40 to 50 km/hr gusting to 60 km/hr will prevail along southwest and west-central Arabian Sea.

 Similar winds are very likely to prevail over Gulf of Mannar and Comorin till June 5. In such a situation, fishermen have been asked not to go into the sea till Saturday. The regular date for the arrival of monsoon in the southern state is June 1. However, this date has no role in deciding the season’s rainfall across the country. India receives over 70 per cent of its annual rainfall between June and September. This year, the Meteorological Department has forecast above normal seasonal rainfall across the country. .