Monsoon makes slight delay, likely to hit Kerala on June 4: IMD

Monsoon

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced a slight delay in the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala. It is now expected to arrive by June 4, instead of the usual date of June 1.

Typically, the southwest monsoon sets in over Kerala with a standard deviation of approximately seven days.

"This year, the southwest monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed. The monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to be on June 4 with a model error of 4 days," the Met office said in a statement. The monsoon arrived in the southern state on May 29 last year, June 3 in 2021 and June 1 in 2020.

Also Read: IMD Forecast: Normal monsoon predicted by govt, 96% of long-period average

The advance of the southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by the onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry season to the rainy season.

IMD’s operational forecasts of the date of monsoon onset over Kerala during the past 18 years (2005-2022) were proved to be correct except in 2015.

Forecast verification for the recent 5 years (2018-2022)

The IMD had last month said India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Niño conditions.

Rain-fed agriculture is a critical component of India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on this method. It accounts for about 40 per cent of the country's total food production, making it a crucial contributor to India's food security and economic stability.