Monsoon likely to hit Kerala on June 1

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 6

The southwest monsoon will arrive in Kerala around June 1, its normal onset date, the government said today. M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said in a tweet that the India Meteorological Department’s extended range forecast suggested seasonal rains would arrive over the Indian mainland on time.

This is an early indication, he said, adding the department would issue an official monsoon forecast on May 15 and rainfall forecast update around May 31.

The monsoon, which irrigates nearly two-thirds of India’s agricultural tracts, is expected to be normal this year. According to the IMD, the Long Period Average is expected to be 98 per cent with an error margin of 5 per cent.