The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the Nicobar Islands have started experiencing the Southwest monsoon.
The agency said, “Southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the Maldives, and the Comorin area and some parts of the South Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands and South Andaman Sea on Sunday.”
Monsoon to hit Kerala by May-end
The annual monsoon season is expected to hit Kerala by May 31. Last year, the monsoon had arrived in Kerala on June 8, May 29 in 2022, June 3 in 2021, and June 1 in 2020.
Last month, the IMD predicted above-normal rainfall for this monsoon season in India, citing favorable La Niña conditions—cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean—expected to develop by August-September, which typically leads to a good monsoon season in India.
Severe heatwave in India
At the moment, several regions in India are experiencing extreme heatwave. Maximum temperature in several states has hit 48 degrees Celsius. Southern India experienced heatwave spells in April.
Delhi, on May 18, witnessed the hottest day of the season, with temperatures reaching 43.7 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has issued a ‘red alert,’ predicting severe heat in many parts of the city over the next two days.
The date of monsoon onset over Kerala has varied widely over the last 150 years, the earliest being May 11 in 1918, and the most delayed being June 18 in 1972, according to IMD data.
(With PTI inputs)