IMD: Monsoon to be delayed by five days, might hit Kerala on June 6

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the monsoon season is expected to hit India through the southern coast five days after its normal onset i.e. on June 6. The weather department suggested that monsoon will first hit the coast of Kerala on June 6.

The IMD said, “This year, the statistical model forecast suggests that the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. The southwest monsoon onset is likely to set over Kerala on 6th June with a model error of plus or minus 4 days.”

While the normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is the first day of June, it seems that monsoon has been delayed by five days this year. IMD said, “Conditions are becoming favourable for the advance of southwest monsoon over the southern part of Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and adjoining the southeast Bay of Bengal during May 18-19.”

The IMD and private weather agency Skymet were unanimous on the prediction of the late arrival of monsoon this year.  Just a day ago, Skymet, India’s only private forecaster, on Tuesday said monsoon rains are expected to arrive on the southern Kerala coast on June 4.

The delay in the arrival of monsoon may not necessarily have an impact on the overall rainfall. Last year, it had hit Kerala on May 29, three days before the normal onset date. Yet, the country received ‘below-normal’ rainfall.

In its initial forecast released in April, the IMD had predicted a near-normal rainfall with an LPA of 96 percent, which falls on the border of ‘below-normal’ and ‘normal’ rainfall category. On the other hand, the Skymet has predicted a ‘below-normal’ rainfall with an LPA of 93 percent.

On Wednesday, the Delhi-NCR area also witnessed fresh rainfall and thunderstorm, bringing much needed respite as mercury kept on soaring for the last few weeks. Some of the regions which got fresh rain included Gurugram, Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.

Other parts in northern India are also expected to witness light rainfall and thunderstorm accompanied by a dust storm and gusty winds up to 30-40 kmph.