Monsoon Arrives Early in Kerala, 3 Days Before It’s Onset Time, Says IMD

On Sunday, India's annual monsoon, which accounts for over 70% of the country's rainfall, arrived on the coast of Kerala state in southern India (May 29, 2022). The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed the start of the southwest monsoon across Kerala today, three days ahead of the regular June 1 date.

"The south-west monsoon arrived in Kerala on Sunday, May 29, rather than June 1 as expected," IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. The southwest monsoon is considered India's agri-based economy's lifeline. The arrival of the Southwest monsoon in Kerala is the most eagerly awaited news for the agrarian sector across the country.

The SW monsoon was expected to arrive on May 27 with a model error of four days, according to earlier predictions by IMD.

After that, the IMD did a lot of back-and-forth over the actual date. The onset of monsoon was finally proclaimed on Sunday due to "favorable" circumstances, according to the IMD.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Saturday that maximum temperatures in the plains of northwest India and vast sections of central India are expected to rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius.

"A gradual rise in maximum temperatures of 2-3 degrees Celsius is very likely over most parts of northwest India over the next three days," the weather department said in its bulletin. "A gradual rise in maximum temperatures of 2-3 degrees Celsius is very likely over most parts of central India over the next two days."

"Over the next five days, no substantial heatwave conditions are highly likely over the country," IMD added. According to the IMD, conditions are improving for the onset of the Southwest Monsoon in Kerala in the next 2-3 days.

The southern peninsular region is already counting down to the arrival of the southwest monsoon, while rain is falling in east and northeast India.