Monsoon sets in over Kerala and northeast
Kerala has already been experiencing heavy rainfall over the past few days, leading to a surplus in May precipitation
By Newsmeter Network Published on 30 May 2024 9:46 AM GMT
NEW DELHI: Spurred by cyclone Remal, the southwest monsoon set in over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast on Thursday, a day earlier than forecast by the weather office.
Weather scientists said the cyclone, which ripped through West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, had pulled the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, which could be one of the reasons for early onset over the northeast.
Kerala has already been experiencing heavy rainfall over the past few days, leading to a surplus in May precipitation according to weather office data.
"Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India today, the 30th May, 2024," the India Meteorological Department said.
Normally, the monsoon onset date for states like Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, and Assam is June 5. However, the IMD expects further advancement of the monsoon into various parts of South Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Bay of Bengal, and northeastern states in the coming days.
The onset of monsoon over Kerala is declared by the IMD if 14 specified stations and neighboring areas receive 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days, accompanied by low Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and south-westerly wind direction.
Monsoon is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. It is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water, apart from power generation across the country.
Inputs from PTI
