Monsoon to make landfall in 48 hours: IMD

Says there is a marked trough of low over southeast Arabian Sea

Rain clouds gather over the sea at Valiathura in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department says the winds over the Arabian Sea are becoming favourable for the onset of the monsoon.— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

The southwest monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast in the next 48 hours after a delay of four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said here on Thursday.

The IMD said there was an increase in rainfall activity in the State and monsoon could hit anytime now.

The monsoon hitting Kerala marks the official onset of the rainy season in the country.

Delay

The normal onset date of monsoon in India is June 1. The IMD had initially said the monsoon would hit the southern State on May 30, but later revised it to June 5, citing its ‘sluggish’ pace.

“The trough of low over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep area is more marked today. Under its influence, rainfall activity over Kerala has increased. Winds over the southeast Arabian Sea are also becoming favourable. The conditions continue to be favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala in the next 48 hours,” the IMD said in a statement.

Private forecast agency Skymet said rainfall was likely to get intense in the next two days.

“While the rainfall remained minimal in the last couple of days over Kerala, it picked up in the past 24 hours. Rainfall activity is likely to get intense in the next two days and more showers are expected over the State and adjoining parts. As we move ahead, more parts of Kerala are likely to be bathed by good pre-monsoon rain, ushering in monsoon in India,” Skymet said in a statement. — PTI