Monsoon finally arrives in Kerala, a week later than usual, declares IMD

The southwest monsoon reached the Indian mainland on Thursday, a week later than it normally does, with the India Meteorological Department declaring its onset over Kerala.

Onset of Southwest monsoon over Kerala#India #Kerala #monsoon #WeatherUpdate #IMD@DDNewslive @moesgoi @ndmaindia @airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/6npfjsF4zm

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 8, 2023

Meteorologists earlier said Cyclone 'Biparjoy' had been impacting the intensity of the monsoon and that its onset over Kerala would be "mild".

VSCS BIPARJOY over eastcentral Arabian Sea, lay centered at 0830 IST of today, near lat 14.0N & long 66.0E, about 850 km west-southwest of Goa, 900 km southwest of Mumbai, 930 km south-southwest of Porbandar and 1220 km south of Karachi. To intensify further during next 3 days. pic.twitter.com/aXZb3vQTnP

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 8, 2023

In a statement on Thursday, the IMD said, "The southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala today, June 8." "The monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of south Arabian Sea and some parts of central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area, most parts of Kerala, most parts of south Tamil Nadu, remaining parts of Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and some more parts of southwest, central and northeast Bay of Bengal today," it added.

The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. In mid-May, the IMD said the monsoon might arrive in Kerala by June 4. Skymet had predicted the monsoon onset over Kerala on June 7, with an error margin of three days.