The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday predicted that the onset of Southwest Monsoon will hit Kerala in 24 hours as the “conditions continue to become favourable”. The IMD had earlier predicted in its forecast that it would hit Kerala on May 31.
Meanwhile, many parts of the state have already started receiving ample rainfall in the past 2 weeks. On Wednesday as well, many parts of Kerala received moderate rainfall and as per the latest update from the India Meteorological Department, very heavy rainfall is anticipated in five districts of the state in the coming hours.
IMD issued an orange alert in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts on Wednesday as it warned of "very heavy rains" at these places.
Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, and Thrissur districts were placed under yellow alert by the weather department. However, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts were earlier placed under red alert by IMD.
The ongoing heavy rainfall in Kerala has caused widespread flooding and traffic snarls in the state. Trees were uprooted and houses damaged, with over 5,000 chickens killed in a poultry farm. The IMD has not officially confirmed the cause, but experts at Cochin University of Science and Technology have cited cloudburst as the reason, reported PTI.
The Monsoon in the Bay of Bengal could facilitate early advancement into Northeastern states, worsening recovery from floods and landslides after Cyclone Remal. The monsoon is expected to further advance into the Arabian Sea, Maldives, Comorin, Lakshadweep, southwest Bay of Bengal, northeast Bay of Bengal, and Northeastern states. However, delayed onset in North and Northwest India is predicted.
The Indian Meteorological Organization (IMD) has announced the monsoon onset over Kerala, based on specific ocean-atmospheric parameters. The criteria include rainfall over 14 stations, Outgoing Longwave Radiation, and westerly wind depth up to 600 hectopascal (hPa). This year's monsoon advancement is expected to be swift and timely.