Monsoon Onset In Kerala Likely Today, Scattered Rainfall In Other Parts Of Country: IMD

Going by the latest forecast from the Met department, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep will receive heavy rainfall till June 5. Fishermen in these regions have been advised not to venture into the sea till Saturday

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New Delhi: Here is some good news for the economy! The conditions are favourable for the onset of monsoon in Kerala on Thursday even as though it is two days behind the regular schedule,  as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) update.

“Due to the strengthening of the south-westerly winds and the spatial expansion of the rainfall over Kerala, the conditions are favorable for the onset of the Southwest monsoon on June 3,” the weather summary issued at 8.30 am on Thursday read.

However, the IMD is yet to officially declare the onset of monsoon in India.

Going by the latest forecast from the Met department, Kerala, Mahe, and Lakshadweep will receive heavy rainfall till June 5. Fishermen in these regions have been advised not to venture into the sea till Saturday

Apart from the increase in the intensity of rainfall, other cues favouring the monsoon arrival is the strengthening of the westerly winds blowing landwards from the Arabian Sea. “There will be strong winds with speeds ranging between 40 to 50 km/hr gusting to 60 km/hr along the southwest and west-central Arabian Sea. Similar wind speeds are likely over the Gulf of Mannar and Comorin till June 5,” the weather bulletin stated.

Normally, the onset of monsoon is declared after the Met department observes standard criteria including indications such as 14 or more meteorological stations in Kerala which should record rainfall measuring 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days after May 10.

Apart from this the strengthening of the westerly winds along the Kerala coast and the Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) is closely watched before making any official commencement of the monsoon.

Earlier, the Met department has indicated that the Southwest Monsoon is likely to be normal in the north and south India, above-normal in central India, and below-normal in east and northeast India.

Releasing its second Long Range Forecast for Southwest Monsoon 2021, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Mrutunjay Mohapatra said that the monsoon this year is likely to be normal in the country as a whole.