Monsoon gains momentum in Kerala

Rain has spread out to more parts of state on Sunday

As the Southwest monsoon started to cover more parts of Kerala on Sunday, weathermen issued a warning to fishermen as strong winds were expected to blow along the coast. 

The Met office in Thiruvananthapuram advised the fishermen to be cautious while venturing into the sea.

“In view of the onset phase of Southwest monsoon over the south Arabian sea and Kerala, squally weather with wind speed up to 50-60 kmph is likely along Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area,” a bulletin released by the Met centre here said on Sunday. 

The Southwest monsoon entered the state on Friday, a day after its forecast onset date.After a sedate start, signs of the monsoon spreading out to more parts of the state emerged on Sunday.

Kottayam, however, was the only station that recorded heavy rainfall, at 7 cm. Parts of the central-southern districts of Thrissur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta received 4 cm rainfall on Sunday. The Met centre has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated places in the state till the morning of Tuesday.

Weathermen have predicted a “below-normal” monsoon this year. Since June 1, Kerala has received a cumulative rainfall of 74.7 mm, 51 per cent less than what is categorised as normal rainfall in the period between June 1 and 8.