<p>Delayed by four days, the South West monsoon set in over Kerala today, marking its entry into the Indian sub-continent amid projections of below normal monsoon this year.<br /><br />Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General L S Rathore said in New Delhi that "South West monsoon has arrived" after the weather officials studied the rain pattern in Kerala over the last two days.<br /><br />Rathore said there was "sluggish march" in the onset phase.<br /><br />"We have 13 stations in Kerala and one in Karnataka that have recorded more than 2.5 mm of rainfall over the past two days-- one of the most important criteria to declare its arrival," said Rathore.<br /><br />Continuous rain for over 48 hours with a westerly windspeed of 15 to 20 knots is among two critical parameters for declaring the arrival of monsoon, which is crucial for the country and its agro-based economy.<br /><br />After four years of normal and above-normal monsoon, India is expected to have below normal monsoon this year with rainfall projected to be 95 per cent, which will be disappointing for the farming community.<br /><br />Officials in the weather department had said the monsoon is expected to be below normal because of El-Nino effect, which is generally associated with the warming of ocean water.<br /><br />Isolated rainfall occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Coastal and South interior Karnataka in the last 48 hours.<br /><br />The South west monsoon, which brings good rainfall to most parts of the country, is a crucial component for agriculture and also for power generation.<br /><br />Kerala, which depends heavily on hydel power, has been facing severe shortfall in electricity generation, forcing the power board to impose 45-minute loadshedding for domestic consumers since last week.<br /><br />An IMD bulletin in Thiruvananthapuram said rain occurred at many places in Kerala and Lakshadweep.<br /><br />Vyttiri and Pookot in Wayanad district received the highest raifall-6 cm each--follwed by Vaikom in Kottayam district (4 cm) and Alappuzha, Ernakulam South, Kudlu (Kasaragod district), Peermade (Idukki district) and Kollam (3 cm each), it said.</p>.<p>Heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at most places in Kerala and Lakshadweep till June 9 morning, it said.<br /><br />Fishermen have been warned of strong onshore winds from westerly direction, speed occasionally reaching 45-55 kmph, likely off the Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area during the next 24 hours, the bulletin adds.<br /><br />According to IMD, last year Kerala received 2570.3 mm rainfall during the South West Monsoon season (June 1 to Sept 30) against the normal rainfall of 2039.6 mm, which was 26 per cent excess.</p>
<p>Delayed by four days, the South West monsoon set in over Kerala today, marking its entry into the Indian sub-continent amid projections of below normal monsoon this year.<br /><br />Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General L S Rathore said in New Delhi that "South West monsoon has arrived" after the weather officials studied the rain pattern in Kerala over the last two days.<br /><br />Rathore said there was "sluggish march" in the onset phase.<br /><br />"We have 13 stations in Kerala and one in Karnataka that have recorded more than 2.5 mm of rainfall over the past two days-- one of the most important criteria to declare its arrival," said Rathore.<br /><br />Continuous rain for over 48 hours with a westerly windspeed of 15 to 20 knots is among two critical parameters for declaring the arrival of monsoon, which is crucial for the country and its agro-based economy.<br /><br />After four years of normal and above-normal monsoon, India is expected to have below normal monsoon this year with rainfall projected to be 95 per cent, which will be disappointing for the farming community.<br /><br />Officials in the weather department had said the monsoon is expected to be below normal because of El-Nino effect, which is generally associated with the warming of ocean water.<br /><br />Isolated rainfall occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Coastal and South interior Karnataka in the last 48 hours.<br /><br />The South west monsoon, which brings good rainfall to most parts of the country, is a crucial component for agriculture and also for power generation.<br /><br />Kerala, which depends heavily on hydel power, has been facing severe shortfall in electricity generation, forcing the power board to impose 45-minute loadshedding for domestic consumers since last week.<br /><br />An IMD bulletin in Thiruvananthapuram said rain occurred at many places in Kerala and Lakshadweep.<br /><br />Vyttiri and Pookot in Wayanad district received the highest raifall-6 cm each--follwed by Vaikom in Kottayam district (4 cm) and Alappuzha, Ernakulam South, Kudlu (Kasaragod district), Peermade (Idukki district) and Kollam (3 cm each), it said.</p>.<p>Heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at most places in Kerala and Lakshadweep till June 9 morning, it said.<br /><br />Fishermen have been warned of strong onshore winds from westerly direction, speed occasionally reaching 45-55 kmph, likely off the Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area during the next 24 hours, the bulletin adds.<br /><br />According to IMD, last year Kerala received 2570.3 mm rainfall during the South West Monsoon season (June 1 to Sept 30) against the normal rainfall of 2039.6 mm, which was 26 per cent excess.</p>