New Delhi
The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Tuesday, three days before its scheduled arrival, says the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The onset of monsoon over the southern state marks the commencement of the four-month-long rainy season in the country.
June 1 is the official onset date for the arrival of monsoon in the country and it takes more than a month-and-half to cover the entire country.
The IMD has made a forecast of “normal” rainfall this season.
Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency and a rival of the IMD, had said that the monsoon made its arrival in Kerala + on Monday.
Besides this factor, the westerly winds must be up to 15,000 feet above main sea level and outgoing long-wave radiation less than 200 wm-2 (watt per square metre) to declare the arrival of monsoon.
ll the necessary parameters were met following which the onset of monsoon over Kerala was announced, Mritunjay Mohapatra, Additional Director General, IMD said.
