Bhubaneswar: Formation of a low-pressure area in Southeast Arabian Sea in the next 24 hours is likely to impede the progress of the southwest monsoon current towards Kerala coast, according to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) latest update.
“There has been some reduction of clouds off Kerala coasts in last 24 hours. Also, under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea, a low pressure area is very likely to form over the same region during next 24 hours. It is likely to move nearly northwards and intensify into a depression over southeast and adjoining eastcentral Arabian Sea during subsequent 48 hours. In view formation and intensification of this system and its near north-ward movement likely to influence critically advance of southwest monsoon towards Kerala coast,” it said.
The IMD also said prevailing westerly winds over the southern Arabian Sea, extending up to 2.1 km above sea level, may be conducive to the southwest monsoon settling over Kerala. “The cloud mass over the Southeast Arabian Sea is also increasing, we expect that these favourable conditions for monsoon onset over Kerala will further improve during the next 3-4 days,” the weather agency added.
As per the current study, the monsoon is expected to reach Kerala by June 7.
In the first monsoon forecast in early May, it had predicted the onset over Kerala on 4 June with an error margin of four days.
Meanwhile, Odisha will continue to remain under the influence of Nor’wester. Yellow warning for thunderstorm with lightning and gusty surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph has been issued for several districts till June 6. There is also a forecast for light to moderate rain at some places in all districts of the state during this period.
The MeT office further said that there will be no large change in the day temperature at many places and the mercury is likely to soar to 42 degree Celsius or more at one or two places in Interior Odisha during the next 3-5 days.
