Summary:
NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon on Tuesday hit Kerala , three days before its scheduled arrival, says the India Meteorological Department IMD ). "Today, the southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of southeast Arabian Sea, Comorin – Maldives area, entire Lakshadweep, most parts of Kerala, some parts of Tamil Nadu and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal. According to the IMD, if after May 10, 60 per cent of the available 14 stations --Minicoy, Amini, Thiruvananthapuram, Punalur, Kollam, Allapuzha, Kottayam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Thalassery, Kannur, Kudulu and Mangalore -- report 2.5 mm or more rainfall for two consecutive days, the onset of monsoon over Kerala can be declared on the second day. This is one of the main parameters for declaring the arrival of monsoon.Besides this factor, the westerly winds must be up to 15,000 feet above main sea level and outgoing long-wave radiation less than 200 wm-2 (watt per square metre) to declare the arrival of monsoon.All the necessary parameters were met following which the onset of monsoon over Kerala was announced, Mritunjay Mohapatra, Additional Director General, IMD said. Thus the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala, 3 days ahead of its normal date," said a press release from the Department.Conditions are favorable for further advancement of the southwest Monsoon into some parts of central Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Kerala, some parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, some more parts of eastcentral and northeast Bay of Bengal, and some parts ofnortheastern states during next 48 hours, the release added.The onset of monsoon over the southern state marks the commencement of the four-month long rainy season in the country.June 1 is the official onset date for arrival of monsoon in the country and it takes more than a month-and-half to cover the entire country.The IMD has made a forecast of "normal" rainfall this season.Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency and a rival of the IMD, had said that the monsoon made its arrival in Kerala yesterday..