04 June,2026 01:34 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The southwest monsoon has now advanced across the entire Lakshadweep region. Representational Pic/File
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced the arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala, marking the official beginning of India's four-month rainy season, reported the PTI.
The monsoon reached Kerala on June 4, a few days later than its usual onset date of 1 June. Earlier forecasts had suggested the monsoon would arrive as early as May 26, but its progress was delayed.
According to the IMD, the southwest monsoon has now advanced across the entire Lakshadweep region, Kerala and Mahe, as well as parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The weather system has also expanded over large sections of the Arabian Sea, the Comorin area and several parts of the Bay of Bengal, indicating a steady progression across the country.
The arrival of the monsoon in Kerala is closely watched as it signals the start of the crucial June to September rainfall season, which is vital for agriculture, water resources and the wider economy.
Last week, the weather department revised its seasonal rainfall outlook, forecasting below-normal rainfall for the country during the 2026 monsoon season.
The IMD expects India to receive rainfall equivalent to around 90 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), which is used as the benchmark for assessing seasonal rainfall performance.
The LPA represents the average rainfall recorded over a long period, generally between 30 and 50 years. For India as a whole, the seasonal rainfall LPA based on data from 1971 to 2020 stands at 87 centimetres, according to the PTI.
According to IMD classifications, seasonal rainfall below 90 per cent of the LPA is considered deficient.
Meteorologists have indicated that the possible development of El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean could affect rainfall patterns during the monsoon season.
El Nino is a climate phenomenon associated with warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and is often linked to weaker monsoon rainfall in India, the news agency reported.
The IMD said that current neutral El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions are gradually shifting towards El Nino conditions.
The weather department expects any El Nino conditions to remain weak during June but potentially strengthen to moderate or strong levels by September.
Meteorologists will continue monitoring developments in the Pacific region, as stronger El Nino conditions could influence rainfall distribution and intensity during the latter part of the monsoon season, reported the PTI.
The southwest monsoon remains a critical weather event for India, supporting agriculture, replenishing reservoirs and sustaining water supplies across the country.
(with PTI inputs)
