Southwest monsoon over Kerala before time this year, likely on May 26: IMD

The monsoon first arrives over the south Andaman Sea, the Andaman and Nicobar islands and the south Bay of Bengal around May 22. This year, the Met department has said that the monsoon onset over this region is expected anytime in the next 24 hours.

India receives over 70 per cent of its annual rainfall during the June to September period. This rainfall is crucial for the country-wide agriculture, water resource management and replenishment of reservoirs and the overall economy.

This year, the IMD has forecast below-average rainfall over the country during the season. Quantitatively, it is expected to be 92 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), which is 880mm (1971-2020).

Kerala, along with many areas in the southern peninsular India have been continuously experiencing pre-monsoon showers this entire week.

Heavy rain batters Kerala; ‘orange alert’ in two districts

As heavy rains lashed parts of Kerala, the IMD on Friday issued an ‘orange alert’ for two districts in the state.

The IMD issued the ‘orange alert’ for Idukki and Malappuram districts.

In addition, it issued a ‘yellow alert’ for eight districts-Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod-for the day.

For Saturday, the India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for seven districts in the state-Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki.

An ‘orange alert’ indicates very heavy rainfall ranging from 11 cm to 20 cm, while a ‘yellow alert’ indicates heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. (PTI)