According to PTI report, the southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala by May 27 this year, a few days earlier than usual, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. Normally, the monsoon reaches the state around June 1.

If it arrives on 27 May as predicted, it will be the earliest start to the rainy season in India since 2009, when the monsoon began on 23 May. Kerala is the first state to receive the monsoon rains, marking the official beginning of the season across the country.

The monsoon usually spreads across India by early July and starts to retreat in mid-September, fully withdrawing by October 15.

However, IMD officials have said that the date the monsoon reaches Kerala doesn’t always reflect how it will behave in the rest of the country. “An early or late start in Kerala doesn’t mean the same will happen elsewhere. Many global and local factors influence how the rains move,” an official said.

Last year, the monsoon reached Kerala on May 30. In previous years, the arrival dates have varied: June 8 in 2023, May 29 in 2022, June 3 in 2021, and so on.

The IMD has already forecast a good monsoon this year. In April, they said India could expect above-normal rainfall between June and September. They also ruled out El Niño, a climate pattern often linked to weak monsoons in India.

Above-normal rain would be good news, especially for farmers. Around 42% of India’s population depends on farming for their livelihood, and the monsoon is key to watering crops, filling reservoirs, and generating hydroelectric power.

Good rainfall also helps reduce the pressure on drinking water supplies in many parts of the country.

Source: PTI