Monsoon likely to hit Kerala on June 3

New Delhi: The onset of monsoon over Kerala has been delayed by a few days and is now likely to take place on June 3. The southwesterly winds gradually strengthens from Tuesday resulting in likely enhancement of rainfall activity, latest meteorological indications show.

In the last five years, except for 2017 and 2018 (May 30 and 29 respectively), the monsoon has always been delayed by a few days. In 2020, it was forecast to hit on June 1, but it started on June 5; in 2019, it was predicted June 6, but it started on June 8 and in 2016, it was delayed by a day on June 8.

Due to strengthening of lower-level southwesterly winds, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls is very likely over northeastern states during the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Under the influence of favourable meteorological conditions, the IMD said scattered to fairly widespread rainfall or thunderstorm is expected over Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe and isolated to scattered rainfall or thunderstorm over remaining parts of south Peninsular India during the next 4-5 days.

Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Kerala and Mahe during the next 5 days, the IMD said, adding the rainfall is likely over coastal Karnataka on June 1-3 and South Interior Karnataka on June 2-3.

Besides, the weather outlook for June 5-7 also forecast fairly widespread to widespread rainfall and thunderstorms with heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over northeast India.

"Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are likely over Peninsular India. Isolated to scattered rainfall and thunderstorms likely over East and Central India, Western Himalayan Region and adjoining plains of Northwest India."

However, the IMD said, weather is likely to be dry over remaining parts of the country.