The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Tuesday the Southwest Monsoon is set to make an early onset over the Andaman Sea, and will be realised early next week.
“The Southwest Monsoon is very likely to advance into the South Andaman Sea, some parts of the Southeast Bay of Bengal, and the Nicobar Islands around May 13,” IMD said.
A week ago, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that this year, a normal onset and advance of the Southwest Monsoon into mainland India was highly possible.
The normal date for the onset of monsoon over the South Andaman Sea is anytime after mid May with the normal date being May 19. By late May, the monsoon advances close to mainland India. IMD declares the monsoon onset over India when it hits Kerala, where the normal onset date is June 1.
The Southwest Monsoon is the chief rainy season for India, and it lasts from June to September. Over 70 per cent of the country’s annual rainfall is recorded during these four months. The country’s Long Period Average is 880 mm.
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