The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Tuesday, 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 southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin — the Maldives area, entire Lakshadweep, most parts of Kerala, some parts of Tamil Nadu and some more parts of southwest, central, and northeast Bay of Bengal. Thus, the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, the 29th May 2018, three days ahead of its normal date.”
The IMD said conditions were favourable for the advance of the monsoon into some parts of the central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, eastcentral and northeast Bay of Bengal, and some parts of the northeastern States in the next 48 hours. The northern limit of the monsoon passed through Kannur, Coimbatore, Kodaikanal, and Tuticorin on Tuesday. Widespread rainfall has occurred across Kerala in the past three to four days.
As much as 60% of the weather stations in the State have recorded 2.5mm or above rainfall since May 25. Westerly winds have strengthened and the cloud cover has been persistent, satisfying the parameters for the monsoon onset over Kerala.
The IMD said a well-marked low pressure area has developed over southeast and adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea off north Kerala-Karnataka coasts and another one over eastcentral and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal. It is likely to concentrate into a depression in the next 12 hours.
