Southwest Monsoon Expected to Hit Kerala a Day Earlier This Year

Pune, 16th May 2024: Relief is on the horizon for those enduring the scorching summer heat and farmers eagerly awaiting the arrival of rain. The Southwest Monsoon is set to make its entry into Kerala a day earlier this year, on 31st May.

Traditionally, Kerala serves as the first gateway for the monsoon in India, typically receiving it around June 1st. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Wednesday (15th May) night that this year, the monsoon’s arrival in Kerala would be a day ahead of schedule, bringing respite to those grappling with the heat. The IMD had previously indicated that the monsoon would reach the South Andaman coast by the following Sunday (the 19th), a forecast now confirmed.

Since 2005, the IMD has been forecasting the monsoon’s Kerala arrival date using a statistical model developed within the country. This model incorporates six different criteria to predict the onset, providing a window of four days for its anticipated arrival.