Monsoon to arrive in Kerala within 24 hours, earliest onset in state in 16 years

Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS

The monsoon is set to arrive in Kerala within the next 24 hours, nearly a week ahead of its usual schedule. This year’s onset in Kerala is set to be the earliest in the last 16 years.

All favourable conditions for the onset of the monsoon have developed over the state, with heavy rainfall lashing several parts of Kerala over the past two days due to a combination of a low-pressure area and the advancing monsoon system.

The last time the monsoon arrived this early in the state was in 2009 and 2001, when it reached the state on May 23.

The normal date for the monsoon’s onset over Kerala is June 1. However, the earliest recorded arrival was on May 11 in the year 1918. On the other hand, the record for the late onset was in 1972, when monsoon rains began as late as June 18.

In the last 25 years, the most delayed arrival occurred in 2016, when the monsoon entered Kerala on June 9.

In the southern states, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Kerala, coastal and south interior Karnataka, and Konkan and Goa on Saturday.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and coastal Karnataka through May 29, with gusty winds reaching 40–50 kmph. Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will also see scattered showers and thunderstorms over the next five days, the weather department said.

MAHARASHTRA

A depression has formed over the east-central Arabian Sea near the south Konkan coast and was located about 40 km northwest of Ratnagiri early on May 24. It is expected to move eastwards and cross the coast between Ratnagiri and Dapoli later this morning.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday afternoon issued a red alert predicting heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Maharashtra.

According to the weather report, Mumbai may experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, with light to moderate rainfall and winds gusting up to 40 to 50 kmph in isolated areas.

GOA

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Goa, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall till Sunday. The state government has urged people to stay away from rivers and waterfalls as a precaution. Several parts of the coastal state were lashed by intense showers over the past 24 hours.

DELHI-NCR

Meanwhile, light rain is likely in parts of South Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) over the next two hours, according to an IMD update issued at 5:40 am on Friday. An orange alert has also been issued for Delhi-NCR, with gusty winds expected to reach up to 70 kmph.

JHARKHAND

The weather department on Friday forecast thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and widespread rainfall across Jharkhand over the next few days.

According to the weather office, below-normal maximum temperatures ranging from 31 to 37 degrees Celsius are likely to continue till May 29.

SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA