Monsoon to hit Kerala coast today: IMD

NEW DELHI: The southwest monsoon will set in over Kerala by Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, in line with its forecasts for the start of the fourmonth rainy season that’s vital to the Indian economy.

"Conditions continue to remain favourable for the onset of southwest monsoon over Kerala and its further advance into some more parts of south Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Maldives-Comorin area, some parts of Tamil Nadu, some more parts of Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours," IMD said in a release on Thursday. The monsoon will further advance across parts of the northeast in the next 48 hours.

Forecasts have suggested that the June-September monsoon could be below normal, posing a threat to efforts by the new Narendra Modi government to revive growth amid the risk of inflation accelerating.

The heightened chances of the El Nino weather phenomenon developing this year add to concerns about inadequate monsoon rain. The southwest monsoon normally arrives in Kerala around June 1. It usually advances northwards in surges and covers the entire country by July 15. The onset date last year was June 1 and June 5 in 2012. The start is in line with the weather office forecast that it would hit the mainland by June 5, meteorologists said.

The monsoon will be arriving in India after a late onset over Sri Lanka, which has been hit by heavy rains and floods in the southern part of the island, leading to 23 deaths.

The districts of Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha have been worst hit. Extensive damage to roads and bridges has hampered relief efforts with more than 1 lakh people displaced. Meanwhile, parts of India sweltered under heatwave conditions--west Rajasthan some parts of west Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, east Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Vidarbha.

Maximum temperatures were recorded at Churu (47.1°C), Jaisalmer (47°C), Bikaner (46.8°C), Barmer (46.7°C) and Ganganagar (46.1°C). Delhi recorded a maximum of 44.7°C, the highest in five years.

Monsoons rains are expected to help increase the pace of land preparation for the sowing of paddy, cotton, soybean, pulses and millets across India.

With nearly two thirds of agriculture is dependent on rain, a good monsoon is crucial for farmers and the country’s food security. Even irrigated farms gain from the monsoon as they save on electricity, diesel and labour costs.