Kerala, June 4: The southwest monsoon set in over Kerala on Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This year, the monsoon has arrived three days late, contrary to its usual arrival around June 1.
"The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of the Southwest & Southeast Arabian Sea, some parts of westcentral & eastcentral Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep islands, Kerala & Mahe, some parts of Karnataka & Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Comorin area, southeast Bay of Bengal and some more parts of southwest, westcentral, eastcentral and northeast Bay of Bengal today," said the IMD.
The onset marks the beginning of the four-month southwest monsoon season (June-September), which usually reaches the state around June 1.
The IMD expects rainfall in India to be around 90 per cent of the long-period average (LPA) this year. The LPA refers to the rainfall recorded in a specific region over a defined period, such as a month or season, averaged over a long duration, typically 30 to 50 years.
The LPA of seasonal rainfall over the country as a whole, based on data from 1971 to 2020, is 87 cm. If the monsoon season receives less than 90 per cent of LPA rainfall, the IMD classifies it as "deficient".
One reason behind the below-normal rainfall could be the emergence of El Niño conditions, which are associated with reduced monsoon rainfall in the country.
According to IMD, El Niño conditions are likely to remain weak in June and strengthen to moderate or strong levels by September.
