Monsoon to Hit Kerala Next Week

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reiterated that Southwest Monsoon onset over Kerala is possible by May 25. “Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of south and central Bay of Bengal and some parts of south Arabian Sea during next two days. Conditions will continue to be favourable for further progress leading to onset of Southwest Monsoon over Kerala towards end of the week,” IMD’s Extended Range Forecast for the week starting.

Last week, the IMD had already announced the onset date of SW Monsoon over Kerala on May 27 with a model error margin of plus/minus four days. Much before its normal date of May 22, the monsoon has reached and crossed Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Meanwhile, due to strong cross equatorial flow from Bay of Bengal to Andaman Sea in lower tropospheric levels, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy rainfall and thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds are very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the week starting from Thursday till next Wednesday, the duration as per the Extended Range Forecast.