Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Jun 5: Monsoon is likely to hit Karnataka by June 12, around five days after its onset in Kerala, where it is expected to arrive on June 7.

As per Sundar Mahadev Metri, director-in-charge, IMD, Bengaluru, monsoon will cover many parts of Karnataka in a span of five days.

A low pressure region in Arabian Sea is also expected to accelerate the onset of monsoon along Kerala and Karnataka coasts.

According to Skymet, the development of a cyclonic circulation in Southeast Arabian Sea would induce a low pressure area by June 6. This system is likely to aid monsoon surge over Kerala.

The south-west monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast on June 7, a week later than its normal onset date, Earth Sciences Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Tuesday.

"Conditions will be favourable for onset of south-west monsoon over Kerala during the subsequent 72 hours," the IMD said in its monsoon forecast on Tuesday.

Skymet had said the pre-monsoon rainfall this year was the second-lowest since 1954, further contributing to the country's summer woes.

The three-month pre-monsoon season from March to May ended with a rainfall deficiency of 25%.

Skymet has also said that monsoon would be weak initially.