India’s much-awaited monsoon season is expected to begin soon, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announcing that the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala around 26 May.
According to the weather department, the onset of the monsoon may vary by four days, meaning it could arrive slightly earlier or later than the predicted date depending on weather conditions over the coming days.
The arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala officially marks the beginning of the rainy season in India and is closely monitored because it plays a crucial role in agriculture, water supply and summer heat relief across the country.
IMD Warns of Heavy Rainfall in Kerala and Mahe
The India Meteorological Department has also forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds across parts of Kerala and Mahe over the next five days.
Meteorologists said the changing weather conditions are linked to a cyclonic circulation currently active over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions. This weather system is expected to contribute to the formation of a low-pressure area over Kerala, south interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and adjoining parts of the southeast Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep.
As a result, several districts in Kerala are already witnessing intense rainfall activity ahead of the official monsoon onset.
Southwest Monsoon Advances Across Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
The weather department confirmed that the southwest monsoon has already advanced into most parts of the southeast Arabian Sea and sections of the Kanyakumari region.
It has also progressed across large parts of the southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, most areas of the Andaman Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the east-central Bay of Bengal.
These developments are considered important indicators of the monsoon’s steady progress towards mainland India.
The southwest monsoon typically reaches Kerala first before gradually moving towards other states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi and northern India over the following weeks.
Orange and Yellow Rain Alerts Issued in Kerala
Amid increasing rainfall activity, the India Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for multiple districts in Kerala.
An orange alert has been issued for Kannur and Kasaragod districts, warning residents about the possibility of very heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, yellow alerts were issued for 10 other districts in the state, excluding Thrissur and Palakkad.
For Tuesday, yellow alerts remain in place for nine districts as rainfall is expected to continue.
According to IMD classifications, an orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert signals heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
Monsoon Arrival Brings Relief After Intense Summer Heat
The expected early arrival of the monsoon comes as several parts of India continue to experience scorching summer temperatures and heatwave conditions.
States across north and central India, including Delhi, Rajasthan and parts of Maharashtra, have recorded extremely high temperatures over the past few weeks, increasing anticipation for the arrival of cooler and wetter weather.
The southwest monsoon is especially important for India’s agricultural sector, as millions of farmers depend on seasonal rainfall for sowing crops such as rice, pulses and cotton.
Weather experts are likely to continue monitoring the progress of the monsoon closely over the next few days, particularly as rainfall activity intensifies along the southern coastline.
Inputs from PTI
According to the weather department, the onset of the monsoon may vary by four days, meaning it could arrive slightly earlier or later than the predicted date depending on weather conditions over the coming days.
The arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala officially marks the beginning of the rainy season in India and is closely monitored because it plays a crucial role in agriculture, water supply and summer heat relief across the country.
IMD Warns of Heavy Rainfall in Kerala and Mahe
The India Meteorological Department has also forecast heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds across parts of Kerala and Mahe over the next five days.Meteorologists said the changing weather conditions are linked to a cyclonic circulation currently active over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions. This weather system is expected to contribute to the formation of a low-pressure area over Kerala, south interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and adjoining parts of the southeast Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep.
As a result, several districts in Kerala are already witnessing intense rainfall activity ahead of the official monsoon onset.
Southwest Monsoon Advances Across Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
The weather department confirmed that the southwest monsoon has already advanced into most parts of the southeast Arabian Sea and sections of the Kanyakumari region.It has also progressed across large parts of the southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, most areas of the Andaman Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the east-central Bay of Bengal.
These developments are considered important indicators of the monsoon’s steady progress towards mainland India.
The southwest monsoon typically reaches Kerala first before gradually moving towards other states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi and northern India over the following weeks.
Orange and Yellow Rain Alerts Issued in Kerala
Amid increasing rainfall activity, the India Meteorological Department has issued weather alerts for multiple districts in Kerala.An orange alert has been issued for Kannur and Kasaragod districts, warning residents about the possibility of very heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, yellow alerts were issued for 10 other districts in the state, excluding Thrissur and Palakkad.
For Tuesday, yellow alerts remain in place for nine districts as rainfall is expected to continue.
According to IMD classifications, an orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert signals heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
Monsoon Arrival Brings Relief After Intense Summer Heat
The expected early arrival of the monsoon comes as several parts of India continue to experience scorching summer temperatures and heatwave conditions.States across north and central India, including Delhi, Rajasthan and parts of Maharashtra, have recorded extremely high temperatures over the past few weeks, increasing anticipation for the arrival of cooler and wetter weather.
The southwest monsoon is especially important for India’s agricultural sector, as millions of farmers depend on seasonal rainfall for sowing crops such as rice, pulses and cotton.
Weather experts are likely to continue monitoring the progress of the monsoon closely over the next few days, particularly as rainfall activity intensifies along the southern coastline.
Inputs from PTI
