Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: A slight delay is expected in the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala and it is likely to arrive by June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1, with a standard deviation of about 7 days.
Private forecasting agency Skymet Weather, however, said the monsoon is likely to reach Kerala on June 7 with an error margin of three days.
“The onset will be delayed and the advancement slightly sluggish over peninsular India. Hot weather will continue deep into June this year over central and northern parts of the country. This may not augur well for Kharif sowing,” it said in a statement on May 16.
Scientists, however, said the delay is unlikely to impact Kharif sowing and total rainfall over the country.
The Indian monsoon is driven by the temperature and pressure difference between the Indian landmass and the Indian Ocean.
The IMD had last month said India is expected to get normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon season despite the evolving El Nino conditions.
