Monsoon Arrives in Kerala Eight Days Early, Earliest Onset in 16 Years: IMD Issues Red Alert
Monsoon Arrives in Kerala Eight Days Early, Earliest Onset in 16 Years: IMD Issues Red Alert
The southwest monsoon made an early entry into Kerala on May 24, arriving eight days ahead of its usual onset date of June 1, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This marks the earliest onset since 2009, when the monsoon arrived on May 23.
The IMD attributes the early onset to a low-pressure system aiding the advance of the monsoon, bringing widespread heavy rainfall across Kerala and neighbouring regions. The onset date is significant given the variability observed in recent years; while June 1 remains the average date, the monsoon has historically arrived as early as May 11 (in 1918) and as late as June 18 (in 1972).
A red alert has been issued for several districts in Kerala, including Kannur, Kasaragod, and Malappuram, warning of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204.4 mm in 24 hours. Alerts are in place for May 24 and 25, with Kannur and Kasaragod on high alert today, and additional alerts covering Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad tomorrow. An orange alert was issued for Thrissur and other districts on May 23 due to expected heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.
The IMD also forecasts scattered showers and thunderstorms across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh over the next five days, as the monsoon system moves eastward. It is expected to cross the south Konkan coast between Ratnagiri and Dapoli as a depression, potentially intensifying rainfall in western coastal areas.
To declare the onset of the monsoon, the IMD uses specific criteria involving rainfall patterns at 14 stations, wind conditions, and cloudiness. At least 60% of these stations must report rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days, along with favorable winds and outgoing longwave radiation. This year’s early onset met all these parameters, underscoring the evolving behavior of the Indian monsoon.
