Monsoons Onset Delayed by 4 Days; Adverse Weather Forecasted along Andhra, West Bengal Coasts

The India Metrological Department (IMD) weather forecast report indicates delay in arrival of southwest monsoon over Kerala likely by four days. IMD further stated that the monsoon is expected to hit the southern state on June 5, 2020. According to the report, the low established over the South-East Bay and adjoining South Andaman Sea has become well-marked, and just about to establish depression like conditions. It may reach depression strength on Friday over the central parts of the South Bay and further intensify into a cyclone by Saturday evening. 

Given below is tabular comparison of actual commencement dates of Monsoon in recent years versus IMD’s forecast date of commencement.  

Courtesy: IMD Report  

It can be understood from the data, the actual commencement date has occurred between May 25 and June 8 mostly. Sources say that the earlier arrival was on May 23 in year 2009 while monsoons in June 8, 2016 were the most delayed in last 10 years. Earlier on April 15th the IMD has projected Monsoon rainfall to be 100% of the Long Period Average (LPA). A total of around 88 cm rainfall was projected on that report, for the months June to September. It may be noted that the monsoon season in 2019 breached many records across India with a total of 968.3 mm rainfall. After recording the highest monsoon rainfall in the last 25 years during 2019, the weather department expects India to witness another good monsoon season this year.  

For the coming week,  latest weather report of IMD reported a well-marked low-pressure intensified into a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Saturday and is likely to further intensify into a cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours. For state of Odisha, 12 coastal districts are on alert, and the weather body has also warned of heavy downpour along the coastal areas and in the isolated regions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The weather agency has also forecast “adverse weather” along and off Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal coasts for the next five-six day.