Monsoon Arrives Early in Kerala
The southwest monsoon made an early onset over Kerala on Saturday, bringing widespread rainfall to the region. This is the earliest arrival of the monsoon in Kerala in 16 years. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the last time the monsoon reached Kerala this early was in 2009, when it arrived on May 23.
Monsoon Arrives Early in Kerala
The IMD has issued heavy rainfall alerts for several regions, including Konkan, Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka, south interior Karnataka, and various parts of Kerala.
Early Onset of Monsoon in Kerala
Typically, the southwest monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1 and spreads across the entire country by July 8. The withdrawal process usually begins around September 17 from northwestern India and concludes by October 15.
Monsoon Arrives Early in Kerala
Historical Monsoon Onset Dates in Kerala
According to IMD data, in recent years the monsoon arrived in Kerala on:
- May 30 in 2023
- June 8 in 2022
- May 29 in 2021
- June 3 in 2020
- June 1 in 2019
- June 8 in 2018
- May 29 in 2017
Monsoon Arrives Early in Kerala
Above-Normal Rainfall Expected This Year
An IMD official clarified that the early or late arrival of the monsoon in Kerala does not necessarily indicate similar patterns across the rest of the country. The timing is influenced by large-scale variability and several global, regional, and local factors. Earlier in April, the IMD forecasted above-normal rainfall for this monsoon season, ruling out the likelihood of El Niño conditions, which are typically associated with below-average rainfall in the Indian subcontinent.
