Southwest Monsoon to advance into south Andaman Sea on 21 May, set in over Kerala from 27 May, says IMD

New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is likely to advance into south Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 21 May, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

The southwest monsoon is likely to set in over Kerala during the next two weeks between 27 May and 2 June, the IMD said.

A low pressure area is very likely to form over north Andaman Sea and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal around 22 May. It is very likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm by 24 May.

It is very likely to move northwestwards and reach north Bay of Bengal near Odisha-West Bengal Coast around 26 May morning.

"Due to likely favourable meteorological conditions, the southwest monsoon is likely to advance into south Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 21 May," the IMD said.

"Fairly widespread to widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands till 23 May and its intensity likely to decrease thereafter," it said. This is one of the indications that the monsoon will soon hit the mainland.

Last week, the IMD had said that the monsoon was likely to make an onset over Kerala on May 31, a day ahead of its normal onset date. The development also marks the start of the four-month rainfall season.

The IMD has already predicted that the monsoon is expected to be normal this year.