Bhubaneswar: The southwest monsoon has officially arrived in Kerala, eight days ahead of its normal schedule, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Saturday.
This early onset marks the earliest arrival of the monsoon in the southern state since 2009, when it reached Kerala on May 23.
According to historical data maintained by the IMD since 1975, the earliest monsoon onset over Kerala was recorded on May 19, 1990—13 days before the usual onset date of June 1.
The onset of the monsoon over Kerala marks the beginning of the four-month-long southwest monsoon season, which brings more than 70% of India’s annual rainfall and is crucial for the country’s agriculture-dependent economy.
“As the monsoon winds strengthen, the rains will advance across the rest of the country through June, typically covering the entire nation by mid-July,” an IMD official stated.
Earlier, the IMD had forecast the onset around May 27, with a margin of plus or minus 4 days. This year’s arrival has thus fallen well within the predicted window, albeit at the earliest edge.
Monsoon Onset Dates Over Kerala (2000–2024):
