Get Ready Kerala: IMD Forecasts Southwest Monsoon's Arrival!
New Delhi: The yearly southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Kerala on May 31, marking the start of the crucial four-month rainy season crucial for India's agricultural economy.
"The southwest monsoon is predicted to reach Kerala around May 31, with a model error of four days," stated the India Meteorological Department on Wednesday.
Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the Director General of the IMD, mentioned that this timing closely matches the usual onset date for the monsoon in Kerala, typically around June 1.
"This isn't early; it's close to the normal onset date as the usual date for the monsoon's arrival in Kerala is June 1," Mohapatra clarified.
In the previous month, the IMD had forecasted above-average rainfall for the June to September Southwest Monsoon season. June and July are critical for agriculture, as this period marks the primary phase for sowing the kharif crop.
Two main factors contributed to the likelihood of abundant rainfall, including a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), indicating cooler temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean compared to the western region. This supported rainfall across several southern Indian states. Currently, the IOD status is 'neutral' but is expected to transition to a positive phase by August.
Another highlighted reason was reduced snow cover in the northern hemisphere and Eurasia. Mohapatra explained that historically, there has been an "inverse relationship" between the extent of snow cover in these regions and the intensity of the monsoon.
The onset date plays a vital role in tracking the monsoon's journey across the nation, providing relief from the intense summer heat as it moves northward.
