Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, May 14: The South West monsoon is expected early in Kerala and coastal Karnataka as it hit the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Sunday, May 14.
The monsoon hit the island three days ahead of its normal schedule.

Indian Metrological Department (IMD) statement of today says, ‘The South West monsoon has advanced into some parts of south east Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands, entire south Andaman Sea and parts of north Andaman Sea on Sunday,”

Sources at IMD said that the met agency made the announcement after witnessing strong south westerly winds and persistent cloudiness and rainfall over the islands.

“Heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted in the Andaman and Nicobar islands over the next two days. The seas are also likely to be rough. Fishermen have been advised not to venture out in the next 48 hours,” added the sources.

File photo

“The early arrival of rains in the Andaman and Nicobar islands does not guarantee early monsoon on the Kerala coast, where the normal onset date is around June 1,” said a meteorologist.

“It is difficult and early to predict about monsoon in Kerala. It takes about 13-14 days for the monsoon to reach Kerala from south Andaman. The flows on the Arabian side are normal at the moment.” IMD director general K J Ramesh told media.

Last week, scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research had forecast that the South West monsoon would be hitting the Eastern Ghats between June 14 and 22. The claim was made on the basis of their own forecast model for Indian summer monsoon.

Private weather forecaster Skymet has predicted monsoon to hit Kerala on June 1 with an error of one-two days.

IMD had made a prediction last month that said ‘The year 2017 will have a normal South West monsoon and the country is expected to receive 96% of the average monsoon rain.’