The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that the south-west monsoon is likely to make an early onset over Keralam on May 26.
The south-west monsoon, which is the country’s primary rain-bearing weather system, usually reaches Keralam around June 1 before gradually advancing towards other parts of India. The arrival of the monsoon in the State officially signals the beginning of the June-to-September monsoon season. In 2025, the monsoon had arrived on May 24.
“This year, the south-west monsoon is likely to set in over Keralam on May 26 with a model error of ± 4 days (could occur four days before or after),” the IMD said. The weather department further stated that conditions are becoming favourable for the monsoon to advance into parts of the South Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands over the next 24 hours.
“The advance of the south-west monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Keralam and is an important indicator characterising the transition from the hot and dry season to the rainy season,” the IMD said. “As the monsoon progresses northward, relief from scorching summer temperatures is experienced over the areas,” it added. The four-month monsoon season contributes nearly 70 per cent of India’s annual rainfall and plays a crucial role in agriculture, the overall economy, and the replenishment of reservoirs and groundwater levels.