Clouds hover over the International Terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi/Hubballi: The southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala on May 27, four days earlier than its usual date of June 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.
If the monsoon arrives as predicted, it will be the earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, when it hit Kerala on May 23.
The early arrival is anticipated to positively impact the kharif sowing season. Karnataka usually sees monsoon rains on June 5. However, this year, rains may arrive on June 1 and cover the entire state by June 6.
C S Patil, Director of the IMD, Bengaluru, said there are favorable conditions for the southwest monsoon to advance and we can witness its arrival four to five days earlier.He said while south-interior Karnataka, which consists of the old-Mysuru region, could get normal rainfall this year, the coastal and north interior Karnataka can receive above normal rainfall. Between May 10 and May 16, several parts of Karnataka are expected to receive light to moderate/thundershowers.
Parts of south and north interior Karnataka are also expected to witness gusty winds accompanied by thundershowers till May 15.