Southwest Monsoon Reaches Indian Mainland, IMD Declares Onset Over Kerala

Bhubaneswar: The southwest monsoon has arrived in Kerala, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed on Thursday.

“Clouding has increased over Southeast Arabian sea, the depth of westerly winds over Southeast Arabian sea extends upto middle tropospheric levels, strength of westerly winds in the lower levels is about 19 knots and there has been widespread rainfall over Kerala during past 24 hours. Considering all the above satisfied conditions, the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala against the normal date of June 1,” the MeT office said.

Southwest Monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of south Arabian Sea and some parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, most parts of south Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal. Conditions are favourable for its further advance into some
more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some more parts of Tamil Nadu, some parts of Karnataka and some more parts of southwest, Central and northeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northeastern states during next 48 hours, it added.

Persistence of westerly winds over the south Arabian Sea, an increase in the depth of westerly winds in the middle troposphere, and enhanced cloudiness in the southeast Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, and Kerala coasts, had created favourable conditions for monsoon onset.

The MeT office on Wednesday predicted that the monsoon would hit Indian coast in 48 hours after being delayed by the storm brewing in the Arabian Sea.

Director of SOA’s Centre for Environment and Climate (CEC) in Bhubaneswar SC Sahu said that the southwest monsoon may reach south Odisha between June 17 and 20 if cyclone Biparjoy continues its present course.

The IMD further said that the very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy over eastcentral Arabian Sea was about 850 km west-southwest of Goa, 900 km southwest of Mumbai, 930 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1220 km south of Karachi at 8.30 am. It is likely intensify further during the next 3 days.

It has warned fishermen on Karnataka’s coast against venturing into the Arabian Sea citing dangerous weather conditions and rough seas.