The rainy season arrived in India almost three days ahead of the forecast with Kerala coasts receiving the first showers of the Southwest monsoon, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday.
"Widespread rainfall occurred over Kerala during the past three-four days. The 14 rainfall monitoring stations for Monsoon onset over Kerala have reported more than 60 per cent rainfall since May 25," the IMD said.
The Southwest monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin -- Maldives area, entire Lakshadweep, some parts of Tamil Nadu and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal.
“The monsoon has arrived early, as expected. The next stage forecast about region-wise distribution will be announced in the next few days or first week of June,” said M Mohapatra, head of National Weather Forecasting Centre at IMD.
A marked low-pressure area has formed over southeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea off north Kerala-Karnataka coasts and another low-pressure area lies over east central and adjoining northeast Bay of Bengal, as per the IMD.
The IMD stated that the low pressure will turn into a depression in the next 12 hours.
"Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, some more parts of east, central and northeast Bay of Bengal, and some parts of north-eastern states during next 48 hours, the IMD statement said.
The IMD had earlier forecast the arrival of the monsoon on May 29.
This is the second consecutive year that the monsoon has arrived in Kerala earlier than expected. In 2017, the monsoon had arrived on May 30 as predicted by the government’s weather department. However, in the three years prior to that, it had witnessed a delay.
The monsoon marks the beginning of the rainy season as it advances northward.
India is set to get a normal monsoon in 2018, with average rainfall likely to be around 97 per cent -- essential for its economy.
(With IANS inputs)