Monsoon Arrives In India's Mainland, IMD Declares Onset Over Kerala

Kerala monsoon: The IMD said, "The southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, June 8." 

However, Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to steal moisture away from the monsoon.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset on monsoon over Kerala after the southwest monsoon reached Indian mainland on Thursday. The monsoon onset has come a week later than the usual onset by June 1. 

In a statement on Thursday, the IMD said, "The southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, June 8." 

"The monsoon has advanced into the remaining parts of the south Arabian Sea and some parts of the central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, most parts of south Tamil Nadu, the remaining parts of the Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal today (Thursday)," IMD added.

Earlier, it was anticipated that the monsoon would arrive on June 4 in Kerala. Later, Skymet predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala on June 7 with an error margin of three days. With a deviation of 7 days, the southwest monsoon usually sets in Kerala on June 1.

However, Cyclone Biparjoy is expected to steal moisture away from the monsoon.

Cyclone Biparjoy

The cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' has turned into a very severe cyclonic storm over eastcentral Arabian sea. The IMD said, "The very severe cyclonic storm “Biparjoy” (pronounced as “Biporjoy”) over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved nearly northwards with a speed of 5 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 0530 hours IST of today, the 08 th June, 2023 over the same region near latitude 13.9°N and longitude 66.0°E, about 860 km westsouthwest of Goa, 910 km southwest of Mumbai, 940 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1230 km south of Karachi."

"It would intensify further gradually during next 48 hours and move nearly north-northwestwards during next 3 days," it added. The fishermen in the coastal Kerala have been requested to not venture into the sea due to the cyclone.