The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said conditions appear favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala and the northeastern states on May 26.
In its update, the IMD noted that the monsoon typically reaches the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the end of May, and arrives over Kerala and the Northeast during the first week of June. This year, changes observed over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea had raised expectations of an earlier-than-usual onset.
The southwest monsoon began over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 16, the IMD said. Following this, the onset over Kerala and the northeastern states was anticipated around May 26.
The department added that heavy rain warnings have been issued for several districts in Kerala due to factors such as an atmospheric circulation. It also cautioned that sudden spells of intense rain could cause a slight delay in announcing the exact onset date.
