Southwest monsoon makes an early visit to Kerala

Fourteen rainfall monitoring stations for monsoon onset over Kerala have reported more than 60% rainfall from May 25.

As monsoon arrives in Kerala, a scene at Kadamakudy, near Kochi, on May 29, 2018.

The Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala, three days ahead of its scheduled arrival with the State's coast.

In a press note issued at 11.30 a.m., the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “Today, the Southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of south-east Arabian Sea, Comorin — Maldives area, entire Lakshadweep, most parts of Kerala, some parts of Tamil Nadu and some more parts of south-west, central and north-east Bay of Bengal. Thus the Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala, today, the 29th May 2018, 3 days ahead of its normal date.”

The IMD said conditions were favorable for the further advance of the monsoon into some parts of the central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, some more parts of east-central and north-east Bay of Bengal, and some parts of the northeastern States in the next 48 hours.

Widespread rainfall

Widespread rainfall has occurred across Kerala in the past 3-4 days. Fourteen rainfall monitoring stations for monsoon onset over Kerala have reported more than 60% rainfall from May 25.

The IMD said a well-marked low pressure area has developed over south-east and adjoining east- central Arabian Sea off north Kerala-Karnataka coasts and another one over east-central and adjoining north-east Bay of Bengal. It is likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 12 hours.