Monsoon is likely to reach the Anadman and Nicobar archipelago around May 16, nearly six days before its normal onset date, due to a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal, the India Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. Monsoon usually covers the Andaman and Nicobar islands around May 20. The onset date for Andaman and Nicobar was last month revised to May 22. It then normally takes 10-11 days to reach Kerala which marks the commencement of rainfall season in India. However, monsoon is now likely to reach Andaman and Nicobar around May 16. The IMD is also likely to release the possible onset date over Kerala later this week. A low pressure area, the first step in the formation of a cyclone, was formed over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea on Wednesday morning, the IMD said.

It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over the central parts of south Bay of Bengal on May 15 and further intensify into a cyclonic storm over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the evening of May 16. "In association with the system (cyclone), the conditions will become favourable for advance of southwest monsoon over south Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea and Andaman & Nicobar islands around May 16," the IMD said. Under its influence, adverse weather is likely over south and central Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea from May 15 onwards. The system is under continuous surveillance and the state governments concerned are being informed regularly, the Cyclone Warning Division added. Mrutunjay Mohapatra, director general of the IMD, said the cyclone will aid in advancement of the monsoon, which is likely to be normal this year.