Monsoon to arrive early over Kerala, to be normal in 2021, predicts IMD

The IMD said that monsoon over Kerala is expected to arrive over Kerala a day earlier than its normal onset date. Initial monsoon rains are experienced over south Andaman Sea and the monsoon winds then advance north-westwards across the Bay of Bengal.

PTI photo

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is likely to arrive over Kerala on May 31, a day before its normal onset date, the India Meteorological Department said. The normal onset date of the monsoon over Kerala is June 1.

"This year, the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala is likely to be on 31st May with a model error of plus/minus 4 days," the IMD predicted on Friday (May 14). According to PTI, initial monsoon rains are experienced over south Andaman Sea and the monsoon winds then advance north-westwards across the Bay of Bengal.

Southwest monsoon advances over Andaman Sea around May 22

According to the new normal dates of monsoon onset or progress, the southwest monsoon advances over the Andaman Sea around May 22.

As a cyclone is expected to form over the Arabian Sea, the cross-equatorial south westerlies have temporarily strengthened over the Arabian Sea. The cross-equatorial flow is very likely to strengthen and deepen over the Bay of Bengal from May 20 and a sustained rainfall activity is likely over the south Bay of Bengal and Andaman Nicobar Islands from May 21.

Monsoon to advance over Andaman and Nicobar Islands around May 21

Hence, the monsoon advance over Andaman and Nicobar Islands is very likely around May 21.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said monsoon is expected to be normal this year.