Monsoon Update:
The sweltering heat across various parts of India might soon be a story of the past as the monsoon is on the verge of making its grand entrance. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) brings cheerful news, predicting the monsoon may hit the Indian shores anytime between May 29 and 30, bringing relief within the next 24 hours to the eager state of Kerala. The IMD suggests favorable conditions for the onset of the monsoon in Kerala in the coming hours.
Kerala is bracing for an earlier-than-expected monsoon this year. The typical onset date in the state is June 1, although variations of a few days are considered normal. Following the arrival, torrential rains are anticipated, which is both needed and daunting, as Kerala is already grappling with heavy pre-monsoon rainfall and subsequent waterlogging issues.
The IMD had indicated that the ongoing pre-monsoon showers in Kerala are about to transform into monsoonal rains. Today, red alerts have been issued for the Kottayam and Ernakulam districts, with orange alerts in place for three other districts, given several days of relentless rain in these areas.
Historically, the South-West monsoon usually hits Kerala around June 1, advancing northward with vitality and enveloping the entire country by July 15. Typically, the monsoon makes its first appearance in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on May 22. This year, however, the monsoon's arrival in the Andamans was three days ahead of schedule, on May 19.
The weakening of the El Niño system and the activation of La Niña conditions, which are favorable for a robust monsoon season, have been observed by the Meteorological Department. Additionally, positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions this year are supporting a good monsoon forecast for India.
