Monsoon hits Kerala coast 3 days ahead of schedule

KOCHI: The India meteorological department (IMD) on Sunday declared that the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala, three days ahead of its normal date of June 1. In the last five years from 2017-2021, this is the second time that the Monsoon onset is on May 29, the previous being 2018.
It said that the Indian summer monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, some parts of south Tamil Nadu, some parts of Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest Bay of Bengal on Sunday.
Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some more parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, south and Central Bay of Bengal, northeast Bay of Bengal and northeastern states during next three-four days. Incidentally, IMD had earlier declared May 27 as the early onset date with an error of four days. The agency had said that the previous 17 operational forecasts have been proven correct in all years from 2005 to 2021 except in 2015.
"Under the influence of monsoonal westerly winds from Arabian Sea over the south peninsular India in and a cyclonic circulation over Kerala and neighbourhood, there will be isolated heavy rainfall in many places in the state for the next few days," said K Santosh, head, IMD-Thiruvananthapuram.
Nine districts, all south and central Kerala from Thiruvananthapuram to Palakkad are on alert for isolated heavy rainfall of 7-11cm. On May 31, 11 out of 14 districts, except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Wayanad are on yellow alert.
Kerala has a large excess of 98% summer rainfall from March 1 to May 29 with Ernakulam district recording the highest of 183% followed by Kottayam at 140%. Squally weather with wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail along and off Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till June 2. Thunderstorms with lightning are very likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala and Lakshadweep during these days.
According to the 24-hour rainfall recorded on Sunday morning, Thodupuzha in Idukki district and Poonjar in Kottayam recorded 7cm of rainfall each.
Aryankavu in Kollam recorded 5cm, Seethathode in Pathanamthitta district and Adakkaputhur in Palakkad district received 4cm rainfall each. While declaring the onset, IMD said that cloudiness over southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining areas of Kerala has increased and the depth of westerly winds extends up to 4.5km above mean sea level.
The strength of the westerly winds has increased over southeast Arabian Sea and is about 15-20kts (25-35kmph).
There has been widespread rainfall activity over Kerala during the past 24 hours and out of 14 rainfall monitoring stations for declaring onset of monsoon over Kerala, 10 stations have received rainfall of 2.5mm or more.
Watch Monsoon arrives in Kerala, 3 days ahead of time