Bhubaneswar: The southwest monsoon made an onset over Kerala on Thursday, a day ahead of its expected date of arrival, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India today,” IMD said in a post on X.
The IMD had earlier forecast that the southwest monsoon was expected to reach Kerala coast around on May 31.
Subsequently, the southwest monsoon is expected to advance northwards and reach Odisha after June 12, weather agency sources said.
“Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India including entire Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam today,” an official release said.
Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of Karnataka, Some more parts of Tamil Nadu, Southwest & Central Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal and Assam and Meghalaya and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during next 2-3 days, it said.
Following the early onset of monsoon, normal average rain is expected to be recorded in the country this year.
The monsoon is vital for India’s agriculture, as 52 per cent of the net cultivated area depends on it. Additionally, it plays a key role in replenishing reservoirs needed for drinking water and power generation nationwide.
June and July are the most crucial monsoon months for agriculture as the majority of Kharif crop sowing occurs during this time.
