It may not rain before June 7 in India, says IMD

The onset of monsoon may get delayed by about a week, the India Meteorological Department said in its latest forecast.

The department said that southwest monsoon winds may hit Kerala on June 6 instead of the earlier estimated June 1.

This means, India may get its first shower on June 7 with a model error of plus or minus four days.

IMD, in its release, said that this delay will affect other parts of the country too. 

According to Press Information Bureau, IMD has been issuing operational forecasts for the date of monsoon onset over Kerala, since 2005. The prediction has been proved correct except in 2015.

Further, for monsoon over Adaman Sea, PIB said in its release that, "a well marked  low pressure area has formed over the Indian Ocean which will concentrate into a depression and move north-westwards. As a result, conditions are becoming favorable for the onset of southwest monsoon over Nicobar Islands, south Andaman Sea and parts of south Bay of Bengal around 17th May and advancement over the entire Andaman Sea close to its normal date".

Skymet, a private forecasting agency, however, forecasts that monsoon will hit Kerala between May 28 and May 29, said a media report.

In April, IMD had forecasted above normal monsoon this year, of 106% of the long period average with a model error of 5%.